Rice Recall Expands Across 13 States

A routine trip to the kitchen cupboard could be worth your attention this week. A recall involving packaged white jasmine rice has been expanded in the United States, with more than 27,000 two-pound bags now included in the affected product list.

The recall concerns rice produced by Lundberg Family Farms and was originally announced earlier this year because of concerns that the product could contain foreign material. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has since updated its notice to reflect the larger number of packages involved.

For consumers, the message is straightforward, if you have packaged jasmine rice at home, checking the label could help you determine whether your product is part of the recall.

What happened with the rice recall?

The recall was initially announced in April and involved approximately 4,500 cases of two-pound bags of Lundberg Family Farms white jasmine rice. The affected products were sold through retailers including Wegmans.

The FDA's updated information indicates that the recall now covers more than 27,000 individual two-pound bags.

The issue relates to potential foreign material contamination. In practical terms, that means consumers are advised not to eat the affected product even if the rice looks normal.

According to a statement attributed to Lundberg Family Farms, the affected rice came from a single production run. The company also said that the products had been removed from store shelves several months ago and that no illnesses had been reported in connection with consumption of the recalled rice.

That does not mean consumers should ignore products already sitting in their homes, recalls can remain relevant long after products have disappeared from supermarket shelves.

Which states are affected?

The updated recall notice covers products distributed in 13 states.

They are:

• California
• Connecticut
• Florida
• Illinois
• Louisiana
• North Carolina
• New Hampshire
• New York
• Pennsylvania
• Tennessee
• Virginia
• Washington
• Wisconsin

The rice may have been sold through a number of major retailers, meaning shoppers should rely on the identifying information on the package rather than assuming a particular store is unaffected.

Retailers mentioned in connection with the product include Wegmans, Target, Walmart, Giant and Whole Foods.

How can you identify the recalled rice?

Consumers can check several details printed on the package.

The recalled product has UPC 073416-040281.

Two lot numbers and corresponding best-before dates have also been identified:

• Lot 260201MA: Best Before February 1, 2027
• Lot 260202MA: Best Before February 2, 2027

If the rice in your cupboard matches the UPC and one of the listed lot numbers, do not consume it.

Instead, follow the instructions provided by the retailer, manufacturer or FDA for handling the recalled product. Consumers should avoid using recalled food simply because it appears, smells or tastes normal, contamination is not necessarily something that can be detected by sight or smell.

Why do food recalls matter?

Food recalls can sometimes feel confusing, particularly when consumers hear about several different products being withdrawn from stores at the same time. However, recalls are an important part of the food-safety system.

A recall can happen for many reasons, including contamination with foreign materials, bacteria, undeclared allergens, manufacturing problems or incorrect labeling.

In this case, the concern involves potential foreign material in the rice. While the company has said there have been no reported illnesses associated with the affected product, consumers should still take the recall seriously.

The safest approach is simple, check the package before preparing or eating it.

Other recalls are also making headlines

The rice announcement comes at a time when several other food and pet-food recalls have attracted attention in the United States.

One recent egg recall involving approximately 19 million eggs was elevated to a Class I recall by the FDA. A Class I classification is used when there is a reasonable probability that exposure to a violating product could cause serious health consequences or death.

Reports connected to that recall indicated that dozens of people had become ill and that some had required hospitalization. The affected eggs were sold under several brand names, including Country Morning, Cal-Maine Sunups, Brookshire's, Simple Truth and Kroger, with certain sell-by or best-by dates falling between July 20 and August 17, 2026.

Pet owners have also faced recalls.

Fromm Family Foods recalled two varieties of canned dog food following complaints involving possible metal contamination. The affected products include Turkey Pâté Wet Dog Food and Diner Classics Milo's Meatloaf Pâté Wet Dog Food.

Another pet-food recall involved 639 six-pound bags of Oma's Pride Woof Complete Canine Chicken Recipe after testing identified salmonella contamination.

The variety of recent recalls highlights why checking official recall information can be useful, particularly when buying products in bulk or storing food for long periods.

What should you do if you have the recalled rice?

If you discover one of the affected packages in your kitchen, don't eat it.

Keep the package available until you have checked the manufacturer's or retailer's instructions regarding returns, refunds or disposal. If you have already consumed the product and are concerned about your health, consider contacting a qualified healthcare professional for advice.

It is also worth checking your cupboards periodically. Food recalls can be updated after the original announcement, as this latest expansion demonstrates — the number of affected rice packages has increased substantially since the recall was first reported.

Consumers should also remember that a product being sold by a particular supermarket does not automatically mean every package of that product is affected. Recall notices are generally tied to specific identifying information such as UPC numbers, lot codes and dates.

The bottom line

The expanded Lundberg Family Farms rice recall affects more than 27,000 two-pound bags of white jasmine rice distributed across 13 states.

If you live in one of the affected states and have purchased this product, take a moment to inspect your pantry. Look for UPC 073416-040281, along with the specified lot numbers and best-before dates.

The company has stated that the affected rice came from a single production run, that it had been removed from store shelves months ago and that no illnesses had been reported in connection with the product. Nevertheless, consumers who find matching packages should follow the official recall guidance rather than eating the rice.

Food recalls can be easy to overlook, especially when products have been sitting in cupboards for months. A quick label check, however, can help ensure that recalled food does not accidentally make its way onto the dinner table.

Source

US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), including the FDA's updated recall notice and statements attributed to Lundberg Family Farms.

Disclaimer

This article is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for official food-safety guidance or professional medical advice. Recall information can change as investigations continue. Consumers should verify the latest details directly with the FDA, the manufacturer or the relevant retailer before deciding how to handle a recalled product.