Households that have bought Ben’s Original rice products will want to check their pantries right away.
The brand, owned by food giant Mars, has issued a voluntary recall for select rice products. At issue is the possibility of small stones mixed in the rice, which could cause intestinal and other damage if consumed.
Here’s what you need to know about the Ben’s Original rice recall.
What’s happened?
On October 10, Ben’s Original announced a voluntary recall of some of its rice products. That recall notice was later published on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) website on October 14.
The voluntary recall was initiated after Ben’s Original discovered that some of its rice products may contain small stones mixed within the rice. The recall notice states that these objects are “small, naturally occurring stones originating from the rice farm.”
According to the recall notice, if the rice products do have small stones in them, the objects “pose possible risk of oral or digestive tract injury if consumed.”
What products are being recalled?
Ben’s Original says the recalled items only include a limited number of three select products. Whether the product is included in the recall depends on the batch codes and best by dates listed on the products’ packaging.
The recalled products include:
- Ben’s Original Ready Rice Long Grain White Rice: batch codes 533ELGRV22 or 534ALGRV22 and Best By date of August 2026.
- Ben’s Original Ready Rice Whole Grain Brown Rice: batch codes 534AMGRV22, 534BMGRV22, or 534DMGRV22 and the best buy date of August 2026.
- Ben’s Original Ready Rice Long Grain & Wild Rice: batch codes 533BMGRV22, 533CLGRV22, or 533CMGRV22 and the best by date of August 2026.
Where were the recalled products sold?
According to the recall notice, the recalled products were sold at numerous stores across America. Depending on the specific recalled item, those stores may include:
- Amazon
- HEB
- Piggly Wiggly
- Target
- United Markets
But the recalled products may have been sold at additional stores, the notice cautions.
Impacted retailers are not limited to the ones mentioned in the recall notice “as additional retailers may have purchased products distributed by Associated Grocers, C&S, and Dot Foods from August through September.”
Has anyone been harmed?
Thankfully, the recall notice states that no reports of injury or illness in relation to the recalled products have been reported to date.
However, as the recalled products have a long shelf life with a best by date of August 2026, it’s likely the recalled products are still sitting in many people’s cupboards.
What should I do if I have the recalled products?
The recall notice warns consumers who are in possession of the recalled products not to consume them.
Instead, consumers should contact Ben’s Original Consumer Care to start the return process. The number consumers should call is 1-800-548-6253. Full details of the recall can be found on the recall notice here.