Rashes and flushing side effects from rice have caused Uncle Ben's to recall five to 25 pound bags of the product purchased through wholesale distributors.
Distributor Mars Foodservices was notified of cases at three schools in Houston where students and staff in the Katy Independent School District struck ill after eating the rice at lunchtime according to information from the Texas Department of State Health Services Sunday. The effects then went away half-n-hour to an hour and a half after the product was consumed.
Officials then decided to take out all flavors of the product from its line after Uncle Ben's announced the recall Friday CNN reported.
The recall includes five and 25 pound bags of Uncle Ben's Rice Roasted Chicken flavor, five pound bags of the rice garlic, and butter flavor, five and 25 pound bags of the rice mexican flavor, five pound bags of rice pilaf, rice saffron and rice cheese flavors, and 25 pound bags of the rice Spanish flavor Texas State Health Services reported.
"Our network of distributors, brokers, and sales associates immediately started notifying their customers and collecting the product," distributor Mars Foodservices told CNN.
"Therefore, we initiated the voluntary recall to ensure that anyone in possession of the product is aware that it should not be served or eaten, but returned to where it was purchased," Mars Foodservices told CNN.
The United States Food and Drug Administration is currently looking into the case CNN reported.
Rice products, ready to heat, boxed, and in bag and cups, are not affected by the recall since they are made individually.
Some is available for purchase online, and a few wholesale locations.
Uncle Ben's Infused Rice is also available in roasted chicken, pilaf, saffron, cheese, Spanish and garlic, and other kings of butter flavors.
Consumers with questions or concerns about the affected products can call Mars Food services at 1-800-432-2331.
