A popular white jasmine rice product is back in the spotlight after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provided an update on a recall that was initially announced earlier this year.
Lundberg Family Farms recalled more than 27,000 2-pound bags of its White Jasmine Rice in April after concerns were raised that the product could contain foreign material, according to the FDA’s recall information.
Consumers can identify the recalled rice by its UPC, 073416-040281. Two lot codes are included in the recall: 260201MA, which has a Feb. 1, 2027 best-by date, and 260202MA, which has a Feb. 2, 2027 best-by date.
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Jasmine Rice Recall Updated
The affected rice was distributed across multiple states, including California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.
The product was carried by several major grocery retailers, including Wegmans, Walmart, Target, Whole Foods and Giant. However, shoppers who may still have the recalled rice at home don't necessarily need to worry about encountering the product on store shelves.
In a statement provided to PEOPLE on Aug. 29, a Lundberg Family Farms spokesperson said the affected rice “was removed from store shelves several months ago.”
The company also characterized the issue as limited in scope, saying, “The incident was isolated to a single production run, and no illnesses were reported from consumption of the affected product.”
Consumers who purchased the product should check their bags against the listed UPC and lot information and follow the recall guidance before consuming it.
Recalls Are On The Rise
The growing number of food recalls comes amid an unusually active year for food safety alerts. Health officials have dealt with major bacterial and parasitic outbreaks, while the increasingly interconnected food supply chain means contamination involving one ingredient can lead to numerous related recalls across different products.
Staffing and funding challenges at federal public health agencies have also added pressure to the systems responsible for monitoring food safety.
The scale of the recalls has been particularly notable. USDA-regulated recalls alone impacted more than 37M pounds of food during the first half of the year, marking the highest volume recorded in a decade.
Among the foods affected by recalls this year have been iceberg lettuce, frozen blueberries and shell eggs, underscoring how widely food safety concerns can affect everyday grocery staples.
