PRESS RELEASE

Regarding Agriculture Secretary Johanns Aug. 18 Statement

August 19, 2006

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have been notified by a seed company that trace amounts of regulated genetically engineered (GE) rice have been found in samples taken from commercial long grain rice. Both USDA and FDA have reviewed the available scientific data and concluded that there are no human health, food safety, or environmental concerns associated with this rice.

Details are available on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Web site.