US rice farmers have sued Bayer over GM rice

Reuters reports that rice farmers in Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and California have sued Bayer CropScience, as Bayer's genetically modified rice has contaminated the crop:

The farmers alleged that the unit of Germany's Bayer AG failed to prevent its genetically modified rice, which has not been approved for human consumption, from entering the food chain.

As a result, they said, Japan and the European Union have placed strict limits on US rice imports and US rice prices have dropped dramatically.

For a longer analysis, check Reuter's US Oversight of Biotech Crops Seen Lacking.

The NGO called Center for Food Safety has a great website with updates and background research. You can sign up to get their action alerts and things you can do to make a difference.

Genetically modified rice is not approved in Japan, but there are field trials that could potentially contaminate domestic crops through cross-breeding or mixups, as noted here.

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