🚨 Breaking Food Safety Alert: “Uncle Ben’s” / Ben’s Original Rice Recall
Hey everyone — there’s an important recall affecting certain Ben’s Original (formerly Uncle Ben’s) rice products, and if you’ve got some of these in your pantry, you’ll want to double-check before using them.
What’s Going On?
On October 14, 2025, the FDA published a voluntary recall notice for specific batches of Ben’s Original Ready Rice (Long Grain White, Whole Grain Brown, and Long Grain & Wild) due to the possibility that some packages may contain small, naturally occurring stones. The stones are believed to originate from the rice farm itself. U.S. Food and Drug Administration
The presence of these stones poses a risk of injury to the mouth or digestive tract if consumed, which is why the recall is being treated as a precaution. U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Thankfully, there have been no reported illnesses or injuries associated with this recall as of now.
Which Products Are Affected?
The recall is limited to certain lot codes and “Best By” dates (August 2026) printed on the bottom seal of the package. Here are some of the known affected codes:
Long Grain White Ready Rice: 533ELGRV22, 534ALGRV22 U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Whole Grain Brown Ready Rice: 534AMGRV22, 534BMGRV22, 534DMGRV22 U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Long Grain & Wild Ready Rice: 533BMGRV22, 533CLGRV22, 533CMGRV22 U.S. Food and Drug Administration+1
Affected retailers include (but may not be limited to):
HEB, Target, Amazon, United Markets, Piggly Wiggly, and more.
If your rice doesn’t match any of the listed lot codes or best-by dates, it’s likely not affected — but it’s always good to check carefully.
What Should You Do If You Have It?
Don’t eat it. Even though no problems have been reported, the danger is real.
Check your packaging. Look at the bottom seal or back of the package for lot codes and best-by information.
Return or dispose. You can contact Ben’s Original Consumer Care (1-800-548-6253, during their posted hours) to initiate a return or request a refund.
Stay informed. Watch for updates in case additional batches or retailers become involved.
Why This Matters
Food recalls like this can happen even with widely trusted brands. What’s notable here:
This is a voluntary recall initiated by the company, not a forced action by regulators. U.S. Food and Drug Administration
The contamination (stones) isn’t a biological or chemical hazard, but a physical one — and for that reason, even minor risk is taken seriously.
The recall is narrow in scope — it doesn’t affect all Ben’s Original products, just select Ready Rice varieties.
Official Source
You can see the full FDA recall notice here:
FDA: Ben’s Original™ Issues Voluntary Recall of Select Ready Rice Products U.S. Food and Drug Administration