White rice sold at Wegmans recalled over contamination risk

Wegmans has recalled a popular brand of white rice due to a potential contamination risk.

According to a product recall notice shared by the retailer April 4, it is recalling Lundberg Organic Jasmine White Rice due to the “possible presence of foreign material.” This category of recall can pose significant health risks, like infections, injuries or choking.

The recalled product can be identified with the UPC 073416- 040281, Lot Code 260202 and Best By dates: February 1, 2027 and February 2, 2027.

Any customers who purchased the product, which was sold at various Wegmans stores nationwide, can return it for a full refund.

Lundberg Family Farms confirmed the recall to The Independent, noting that 4,500 cases of the two-pound bags of white rice were affected by the recall.

The company noted that the recall was issued out of caution. It is declared as a Class II, which means that eating the affected items can result in “temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences,” according to the FDA.

“These recalls are used in situations where the likelihood of adverse health consequences is low,” the company said in a statement. “This recall has been reported to the Food & Drug Administration. This incident is isolated to a single production run, and no illnesses have been reported from consumption of the affected product.”

The news comes amid concerns about other products being contaminated with foreign material. In February, Ajinomoto Foods North America, Inc. expanded its recall of frozen not-ready-to-eat (NRTE) chicken products over potential foreign material contamination, specifically glass, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.

Approximately 33,617,045 additional pounds of various ready-to-eat (RTE) and NRTE chicken and pork fried rice, ramen, and shu mai dumpling products have been recalled.

As part of the expanded recall, Trader Joe’s announced in March that four of its products were affected, including its Chicken Fried Rice, Japanese Style Fried Rice, Vegetable Fried Rice and Chicken Su Mui.

The recall came after the FSIS received multiple consumer complaints involving glass, according to the company’s announcement.

Last year, more than 20,000 cases of single-serve peanut butter and peanut butter-and-jelly combination snacks produced by Ventura Foods LLC were recalled after pieces of blue plastic were found during production.

Also in February, Rosina Food Products, Inc. recalled approximately 9,462 pounds of frozen meatball products because they may be contaminated with metal. The USDA classified the recall as Class I — its highest risk level — meaning there is a reasonable probability that consuming the products could cause serious adverse health consequences or death.