A statement issued by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) explained that the recalled products include:
Long grain white rice (lot codes 533ELGRV22, 534ALGRV22).
Whole grain brown rice (534AMGRV22, 534BMGRV22, 534DMGRV22)
Long grain wild rice (533BMGRV22, 533CLGRV22, 533CMGRV22).
They all have an expiration date of August 2026.
Ben's Original is recalling a select number of ready rice products due to the possible presence of small stones, according to federal health officials.
The Food and Drug Administration announced the recall of select products on Tuesday, Oct. 14. The small stones, per the FDA’s… pic.twitter.com/5j743tWc64
Affected products are available at stores such as United Markets, Amazon, HEB, and Target. Ben's Original confirmed that the recall only affects selected batches, explaining, "We are committed to transparency and trust, and are taking steps to remove affected products from stores and notify consumers."
The company stated that the stones occur naturally in rice farms and are not the result of a manufacturing defect. This phenomenon can also occur in some frozen vegetables and other packaged meals, requiring careful monitoring of the production chain to ensure consumer safety.
Stones can cause direct injuries to the mouth, teeth, and gums, ranging from cracked teeth or broken fillings and crowns, to internal wounds in the cheeks and tongue.
Stones can also be swallowed, leading to serious problems as they pass through the digestive system, including:
Tearing of the lining of the esophagus, with pain and possible bleeding.
Intestinal obstruction causes severe pain, cramps, bloating, and nausea, and may require surgery.
Scratching or perforating the intestinal wall, leading to internal bleeding and a serious, life-threatening infection.
There have been no reports of injuries or illnesses resulting from consuming the recalled products, but the company urges consumers not to consume any batch of the products included in the recall and to contact customer service if necessary.
