Randall Foods has issued a recall of 1.6 million cases of its Randall-branded beans packed in glass jars because they may pose a food safety risk, the Food and Drug Administration announced Thursday.
The company said that a broken temperature gauge might have resulted in the beans being processed at a temperature below what’s required for safety. This could raise the risk of the beans being contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, a bacteria that produces a toxin that causes botulism. No illnesses have been reported.
All of the beans Randall Foods produces are part of this recall. These include: black beans, garbanzo beans, great northern beans, kidney beans, navy beans, pinto beans, mixed beans, and Ultimate 4-Bean Mix.
The beans were shipped to stores in 22 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
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The beans are packed in 48-, 24-, and 15.4-ounce glass jars that have a tan label and are marked with “Randall” at the label’s top. The products were distributed between March 1, 2019, and May 15, 2021. The company said that regardless of lot code, any Randall-brand bean with an expiration date before Jan. 1, 2025, should not be eaten. It should be returned to the store where it was purchased for a refund.
Many people associate Clostridium botulinum with canned foods, but it can be a concern for certain foods sold in glass jars, too, says James E. Rogers, PhD, director of food safety research and testing at Consumer Reports. And unlike cans, glass jars may not show an outward sign that something is wrong with the food inside, though Rogers says sometimes a metal lid might bulge. “When in doubt, just throw it out,” he says.
This is the second bean recall this week. On Monday, Faribault Foods recalled cans of organic S&W and O Organics-brand black beans because of a possible risk of Clostridium botulinum contamination.
The Clostridium botulinum toxin can attack the body’s nervous system. Symptoms can include double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, and muscle weakness.
Randall beans are sold by numerous retailers, according to the company’s website, including Hy-Vee, Kroger, Foodtown, and Walmart.
The Details
Products recalled: All types of Randall-branded beans (which are packaged in glass jars) with a best-buy date before Jan. 1, 2025. The recall includes all container sizes and lot numbers. (See the FDA’s list of UPC codes.)
The problem: The beans were processed at unknown temperatures. That increases the risk that they could spoil prematurely or possibly be contaminated with bacteria that causes foodborne illness, in particular Clostridium botulinum, which produces a toxin that can cause botulism.
The fix: Check your pantry for these products, and return the recalled product to the store where it was purchased for a full refund, or toss it into the trash.
How to contact the manufacturer: Call Randall Beans at 513-793-6525.
Lisa L. Gill
Lisa L. Gill is an award-winning investigative reporter. She has been at Consumer Reports since 2008, covering health and food safety—heavy metals in the food supply and foodborne illness—plus healthcare and prescription drug costs, medical debt, and credit scores. Lisa also testified before Congress and the Food and Drug Administration about her work on drug costs and drug safety. She lives in a DIY tiny home, where she gardens during the day and stargazes the Milky Way at night.
