Uncle Ben’s Rice – Consumer alert!!

Remember these words, “Import Less!” and “Buy Jamaican!”

I have been at the supermarket and heard people commenting on the ‘good’ imported products in comparison to the ‘bad’ local products.

Consumers often choose to buy the products that are imported from overseas. Too often such imported products are viewed as superior to our local counterparts.

Well, not all that glitters is gold as was seen from the recent consumer warning issued by the Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC).

Jamaicans have been warned against consuming certain ‘Uncle Ben’s’ Rice products following reports of adverse reactions by consumers in several American states.

The consumer alert is not for the plain Uncle Ben’s rice currently sold in supermarkets but the brand’s special flavoured rice products.

Consumers  in the United States who purchased and consumed the products listed below reported burning, itching, rashes, headaches and nausea. It is suspected that the illnesses may be linked to high levels of Vitamin B3 in the rice.

Due to the ill effects suffered by consumers the products will no longer  be served at schools, restaurants, hospitals and other food-service
institutions in the United States.

Mars Foodservices of Greenville, Missouri, the producers of the producthas since recalled all five-pound and twenty five-pound bags of ‘Uncle Ben’s’ infused rice products.

The following is a list of the recalled products:
1. UNCLE BEN’S® INFUSED® Rice Roasted Chicken Flavor (25 lbs)
2. UNCLE BEN’S® INFUSED® Rice Roasted Chicken Flavor (5 lbs)
3. UNCLE BEN’S® INFUSED® Rice Garlic & Butter Flavor (5 lbs)
4. UNCLE BEN’S® INFUSED® Rice Mexican Flavor (25 lbs)
5. UNCLE BEN’S® INFUSED® Rice Mexican Flavor (5 lbs)
6. UNCLE BEN’S® INFUSED® Rice Pilaf (5lbs)
7. UNCLE BEN’S® INFUSED® Rice Saffron Flavor (5lbs)
8. UNCLE BEN’S® INFUSED® Rice Cheese Flavor (5 lbs)
9. UNCLE BEN’S® INFUSED® Rice Spanish Flavor (25-lbs)

But what about us here in our little island?

Well apparently these products are not currently available in our local supermarkets.  The only products affected would be those sold in the U.S. So if anyone had taken these products to Jamaica from a recent trip to the United States it is important that they take notice of the alert.

So what’s in your cupboard?

Teri Ann Renee Paisley
Gleaner Online Writer

Tags: adverse reactions, consumer alert, rice