Rice Identity Theft: Efforts underway to protect the grain’s name

The U.S. rice industry is in an identity battle, much like the dairy and meat industries are battling plant based labels.

In 2016, USA Rice asked the Food and Drug Administration to establish a standard of identity for rice, but no action has been taken. The industry has been trying for years to prevent products made from crumbled veggies from being labeled as rice, but the FDA says this is not an immediate health concern. The rice industry worries that using the term ‘rice’ on non-rice products is misleading and confusing for consumers.

The FDA has established more than 250 standards of identity since 1939 including ones for milk, peanut butter and ketchup.

Related Stories
The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation introduces us to Sam Cogdill, one of its three esteemed Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award winners for 2024.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Cattle producers recently promoted U.S. beef on a trip to Japan and Korea with the U.S. Meat Export Federation.
After years of drought, farmers across U.S. farm country are getting so much rainfall that it’s dampening their spring planting progress later into the season.
According to USDA experts, Brazil and Argentina’s large drop in corn production has more to do with the economics of corn markets than impacts from weather.
According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor, no part of Iowa is experiencing extreme levels of drought for the first time in nearly two years.