More than 4,500 cases of jasmine rice sold at Wegmans and Whole Foods have been recalled over fears they contain a ‘foreign material.’
Lundberg Family Farms announced the recall of its Lundberg Organic Jasmine White Rice after being alerted to the potential contamination.
The rice was sold nationwide in 2lb purple bags that have a USDA Organic logo on the front, as well as an image of a sun and a stalk.
The products were also sold in other major stores, including Walmart and Target, and have best-before dates up to February 2027.
The California-based company said it was a Class II recall, indicating a situation where a product may cause ‘temporary or medically reversible adverse health events’ or where the probability of a serious reaction is ‘remote.’
No illnesses or injuries linked to the rice have been reported to date.
It was not clear what caused the contamination or what exactly the foreign material is.
Customers have been urged not to consume the rice, and to either throw it out immediately or return it to stores for a full refund.
Lundberg Family Farms has issued a recall of its jasmine rice (stock photo)
The product, sold at Wegmans and Whole Foods, that is being recalled
The recall was first revealed last Saturday by Wegmans on its website. Lundberg Farms confirmed the recall to media outlets.
No notice on the FDA website or enforcement report has been issued.
The recalled rice has the product code of 073416- 040281. It also has the lot codes 260201 or 260202.
It was also not clear how the potential foreign material was detected.
In previous cases, however, the material has been detected after a report from customers consuming the product or from inspectors noting an issue at a factory.
Depending on the size and material of the contamination, the foreign objects could pose a choking risk or cause internal injury.
Jasmine rice is a long-grain variety of rice popular for its slightly sticky texture.
The rice is commonly used as an accompaniment to Southeast Asian dishes, stir-fries and as an alternative to long-grain white rice.
The rice is not significantly healthier than standard white rice, although health experts urge people to get the brown version in order to obtain more nutrients.
On average, Americans consume about 20lb of rice every year, according to estimates.
