A Major Canned Green Bean Recall Is Happening Right Now at Target

Del Monte Foods, Inc. is voluntarily recalling nearly 200,000 cans of green beans due to a potential contamination with a foreign object. This has been categorized as a Class II recall by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), according to a report on the recall. 

A Class II recall is the FDA’s second most severe risk level for recalls, and means that a product may cause temporary or reversible health consequences. 

The recalled green beans are sold in 14.5 ounce cans under the label Good & Gather Cut Green Beans. They were distributed by Target on March 13, per the FDA. Here are a few more details on the impacted cans:

• UPC number 0 85239-11628
• Best if used by date of October 28, 2026
• Lot 7AA 418507

The impacted beans were sold in these states, per the FDA: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

The recall is listed as “ongoing,” which means it’s still being investigated. A representative from Del Monte did not respond to Well+Good’s request for comment by deadline.

What is a ‘foreign object’ recall?

Deals of the recall are scarce. However, the FDA uses the term “foreign object” to describe any substance or material that’s not part of a food and can be considered a hazard or will reduce its quality.

That can include a wide range of things like pieces of metal, plastic, glass, or wood. Animal parts, hair, or droppings could also fall under this category. 

The FDA frequently recalls products for foreign material contamination, including things like plastic, glass, and metal, according to Darin Detwiler, author of the book Food Safety: Past, Present, and Predictions. “Such issues rank among the top 10 reasons for food recalls in the United States," he says. "Between 2017 and 2021, physical hazards like these accounted for up to 15 percent of all recalls.”

How do ‘foreign objects’ end up in food?

Foreign objects can end up in food in a range of different ways, Detwiler says. On the production line, equipment that’s used to prepare and package food can sometimes break down and shed materials like glass, metal, and plastic into the product.

Packaging errors or mishandling the product when it’s being made can also lead to pieces of foreign objects ending up in food, according to Detwiler.

Why is this recall dangerous?

Again, details of this recall are vague. But foreign material in general could pose a choking hazard, cause a digestive blockage, or even puncture or injure parts of the mouth or digestive tract, says Ellen Shumaker, PhD, director of outreach for the Safe Plates program at North Carolina State University.

But the potential danger in eating a recalled product like this “really depends on the type of contaminant,” according to Wade Syers, DSocSci, extension specialist for food safety at Michigan State University Extension.

What to do if you have these cans at home

The FDA, Del Monte, and Target have not publicly shared information on what to do if you have these green beans at home. However, the FDA usually recommends that you don’t eat products impacted by this kind of recall. 

It’s not clear at this point if you can return it to your local Target for a refund. However, you can contact Del Monte Foods’ customer service at 1-800-543-3090 for more details.

If you have the recalled beans at home and you’ve already eaten them, Shumaker recommends reaching out to your doctor or healthcare provider for guidance on next steps.