The FDA has expanded a recall covering over 27,000 packages of Lundberg Family Farms White Jasmine Rice sold at Walmart, Target, and other grocery chains, after warnings the product may contain foreign material.
Federal food safety officials have widened the scope of a recall involving two-pound packages of Lundberg Family Farms White Jasmine Rice, warning consumers in 13 states that the product could pose health risks. The recall now covers more than 27,000 packages distributed through major retailers, including Walmart, Target, Whole Foods, Giant, and Wegmans.
The FDA classified the recall as Class II, meaning exposure to the affected rice “may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences,” though the chances of serious harm are considered remote. The agency's action follows an earlier voluntary recall that began in April, though the specific date and year were not provided.
The potentially contaminated rice was sent to stores in California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. Consumers are urged not to eat rice with UPC 073416-040281 and lot codes 260201MA and 260202MA, with best-by dates of February 1 and February 2, 2027, respectively.
The presence of foreign material triggered the recall, but neither the FDA nor Lundberg has specified what type of material may be in the packages. Customers who have the affected rice are told to dispose of it immediately.
A spokesperson for Lundberg Family Farms stated the problematic rice was “removed from store shelves several months ago.” The company characterized the situation as an “isolated” incident, limited to a single production run. “The incident was isolated to a single production run, and no illnesses were reported from consumption of the affected product,” the spokesperson told People on August 29.
So far, there have been no reports of consumers getting sick or injured after eating the recalled rice.
Wegmans was among the first grocers to announce that it was pulling certain packages of the Lundberg rice from its stores, advising customers they could receive a full refund for returned product. Other major retailers, Walmart, Target, Whole Foods, and Giant, were named as common outlets for the affected rice, but did not issue separate public statements in the material provided.
The recall covers products distributed in thirteen states, but it remains unclear which specific retailers sold the affected lot codes in each state. The recall is limited to two-pound bags with the specified UPC and lot codes, and does not apply to other Lundberg products.
The FDA’s recall expansion, as reported by The U.S. Sun, leaves important questions unanswered for consumers. The agency has not released the exact date of its action, and has not identified the type of foreign material found. The name of the company spokesperson and the original recall notice were also not disclosed.
For now, shoppers are forced to rely on broad warnings and self-policing, as federal regulators and large food companies continue to handle recalls behind closed doors, often with limited transparency.
When government and corporate leaders keep details vague, everyday Americans are left to clean up the mess, while accountability gets lost in the fine print.
