A grocery store staple brand has issued a recall of some of its most popular products due to the possible presence of small stones.
The FDA announced an urgent recall of a limited number of Ben’s Original Long Grain White, Whole Grain Brown, and Long Grain & Wild Ready Rice products.
Ingesting the small stones, which occur naturally in rice farms, could pose potentially severe risks to people’s oral and digestive health. The mouth is the first point of contact, and the immediate danger is traumatic injury to the hard and soft tissues, from cracked teeth to cuts in the gums, inner cheeks and tongue.
A stone can be swallowed either unnoticed or after causing damage to the mouth. Once swallowed, it travels through the entire digestive tract, where it can cause a cascade of serious problems, ranging from lacerations in the esophagus and bowel blockage to a scrape along the intestinal wall that can lead to internal bleeding and possibly sepsis.
The recalled products are sold in United Markets, Amazon, HEB stores, and Target.
But the company warned in an FDA announcement: ‘Impacted retailers are not limited to those listed below as additional retailers may have purchased products distributed by Associated Grocers, C&S, and Dot Foods from August through September.’
The recall is confined to the specific batches in question; no other Ben’s Original products are involved.
The company added: ‘In line with our commitment to transparency and trust, we are taking action to remove the impacted products from the stores where they were sent and to notify consumers.’
The recall affects specific batches of three Ben’s Original Ready Rice varieties: Long Grain White, Whole Grain Brown and Long Grain & Wild. The impacted products, which all have a best-by date of August 2026. Consumers are urged to check the batch code on the bottom of their package
There have been no reports of injury or illness to date regarding the potentially impacted product. All of the recalled shelf-stable products have best-by dates of August 2026.
The company said: ‘These small stones pose possible risk of oral or digestive tract injury if consumed.’
The affected products have best-by dates of August 2026 and include Long Grain White (batch codes 533ELGRV22, 534ALGRV22), Whole Grain Brown (534AMGRV22, 534BMGRV22, 534DMGRV22) and Long Grain & Wild (533BMGRV22, 533CLGRV22, 533CMGRV22).
A stone’s hardness can easily crack a tooth upon a single bite, ranging from a minor yet painful hairline fracture to a severe break that exposes the nerve.
The result is intense pain, sensitivity and a necessary visit to the dentist for a crown, root canal or even an extraction.
Stones can also crack or dislodge fillings, crowns and veneers, leading to pain and costly repairs.
Moreover, the sharp edges of a stone can cut the gums, inner cheeks, palate or tongue, leading to bleeding, pain and an open wound vulnerable to infection.
Swallowing the stone poses a host of other risks.
On its way down the esophagus, a very delicate muscular tube, a sharp stone can tear its lining, causing severe pain and bleeding.
The worst-case scenario is a puncture, a life-threatening emergency that could allow bacteria to leak into the chest cavity and cause a severe infection called mediastinitis.
The products were sold at major retailers like United Markets, Amazon, HEB and Target, but the company warns the recall could extend to other stores supplied by specific distributors between August and September (stock)
The stones present a dual danger: causing traumatic injuries to the teeth and soft tissues of the mouth, and if swallowed, potentially lacerating or obstructing the digestive tract, with risks escalating to life-threatening infections (stock)
A larger stone or several smaller stones can become lodged in the narrow parts of the intestines, causing a blockage that prevents the normal passage of food and digestive fluids.
This blockage can cause severe abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, nausea, vomiting and an inability to pass gas or have a bowel movement.
It often requires hospitalization and, in some cases, surgery to remove the obstruction.
Finally, as the stone moves through the intestines, its sharp edges can scrape and lacerate the lining, causing internal bleeding that may manifest as black, tarry stools or, in severe cases, perforate the bowel wall.
A bowel perforation is a surgical emergency, as it spills intestinal contents into the abdominal cavity, leading to a severe and widespread infection and life-threatening sepsis.
The fact that the stones are naturally occurring indicates that they were not entirely a reflection of a processing error.
It is not uncommon for other foods to be recalled for similar reasons, such as the presence of rocks in frozen vegetables and metal shavings in snacks.
Naturally derived contaminants can sometimes bypass safety checks and end up in packaged goods, underscoring the need for constant monitoring of the manufacturing chain.
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .