— The Legendary Mike Bridges, 51, Scores Big at Arnold Classic; Says NutraCea's RiSolubles(R) Helped Him Train Better, Faster —

PHOENIX, March 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ —NutraCea (OTC Bulletin Board: NTRZ), a world leader in stabilized rice bran (SRB), nutrient research and technology announced today that champion powerlifter Mike Bridges, who set a new International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) world record with a squat lift of 716 pounds in the 198-pound division at the 2008 Arnold Classic held in Columbus, Ohio last week, has credited NutraCea's RiSolubles® as the key to his success in training for the event. RiSolubles® is a highly nutritious rice-bran-derived nutritional supplement made by NutraCea. Bridges, who is 51 and not a paid spokesperson for the company, calls the product his "secret weapon."

"I've competed in powerlifting events for more than 25 years, and I never felt so fit before entering a competition," said Bridges, who also holds the all-time world record total for the 181-pound weight division set in Dayton, Ohio in 1982. "I typically train for at least 16 weeks, and I nearly did not compete in the Arnold Classic because I only had eight weeks to prepare. However, after adding RiSolubles to my daily training regimen, I was able to achieve peak performance in half the time. I was amazed at my accelerated recovery time and decreased down time. I wasn't sore, which is a big plus when you're training for any competitive event," added Bridges.

"RiSolubles is the most nutrient dense of our portfolio of rice-bran-based products," said Margie Adelman, Senior Vice President of NutraCea. "It's made from the water-soluble fraction of stabilized rice bran, and it's very rich in antioxidants, macro and micro nutrients and phytonutrients. These nutrients can be delivered effectively in a whole food matrix, which makes it rapidly available for the body to use to build lean muscle mass and provide sustained energy for superior workouts."

"RiSolubles helped me train harder and more efficiently, and it helped build lean body mass naturally," said Bridges. "I've consumed many different products over the years, and I am convinced that adding RiSolubles to my morning shake made all the difference and gave me the competitive edge I needed to set the new world record at the Arnold Classic. I highly recommend it to any competitive athlete."

"We're very proud of Mike Bridges and his unprecedented achievement at the Arnold Classic, and we're delighted that he is sharing his training secrets with other athletes so they, too, can experience a nutritional boost from RiSolubles," said Kody Newland, Senior Vice President of Sales at NutraCea.

NutraCea will be showcasing the RiSolubles product at the Natural Products Expo this weekend in Anaheim, California at booth #867. For more information on RiSolubles, log on to www.nutracea.com

About Mike Bridges

Since 2003, Bridges has won several Master Nationals and IPF World Titles, setting multiple new world records along the way. In 2007, at the age of 50, Bridges decided to go head-to-head with younger competitors and entered the Open Nationals in St. Louis, Mo., setting six world records and beating every younger competitor. He also won the Master IPF World Bench Press title in Schwedt, Germany in the fall of 2007, setting a world record of 512 pounds.

About NutraCea

NutraCea is a leader in stabilized rice bran nutrient research and dietary supplement development. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, RiceX, the Company manufactures and distributes products and food ingredients made from rice bran through its proprietary technology and processes. NutraCea has developed intellectual properties to create a range of proprietary product formulations, delivery systems and whole food nutrition products. The Company’s proprietary technology enables the creation of food and nutrition products from rice bran, normally an underutilized by-product of standard rice processing. In addition to its whole foods products, NutraCea develops families of health-promoting "nutraceuticals," including natural arthritis relief and cholesterol-lowering products. More information can be found in the Company's filings with the SEC and at its Web site http://www.NutraCea.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the successful operation and improvement of the rice oil facility in Brazil and the market demand for the material to be produced at the facility, all of which statements are subject to market risks, and the possibility that NutraCea will not be able to complete the plant modifications on a timely basis, to operate the plant efficiently, or to obtain sufficient customer demand to utilize expected production from the plant. These statements are made based upon current expectations and actual results may differ from those projected due to a number of risks and uncertainties. The Company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements in this news release to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting such forward-looking information. Assumptions and other information that could cause results to differ from those set forth in the forward-looking information can be found in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the company's most recent periodic report.

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