Local Uncle Ben's distributor clears the air on product

World Brands Services Division, a subsidiary of GraceKennedy Limited, says the recalled variant of Uncle Ben's Rice is not distributed by the company.

On Thursday, the Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) sent out an alert warning Jamaicans not to consume the five and 25-pound Uncle Ben's Infused Rice product.

The CAC reported that persons in some US states suffered illnesses, including burning, itching, rashes, headaches and nausea, after consuming the product.

GraceKennedy is advising its customers and consumers that the variants of Uncle Ben's Rice which have been recalled in the US markets are not distributed by the company.

World Brands Services, located on Salt Pond Road in St Catherine, distributes within Jamaica a diversified group of products on behalf of third-party principals located worldwide. It is the exclusive distributor of Uncle Ben's Rice in Jamaica.

Meanwhile, the CAC is informing consumers that there is no need to panic as the recalled Uncle Ben's products in the US are not usually available in supermarkets in Jamaica.

In an update yesterday, the CAC made it clear that only products manufactured in the US are affected.

"The products that have been recalled are not sold domestically in Jamaica in supermarkets or otherwise and would only be available to Jamaican consumers with access to Uncle Ben's Infused Rice products that have been purchased in the US or through certain online retailers," the CAC said.