Foreign Object Found in Popular Canned Green Beans Sparks Recall

Recall warning over blurred grocery store aisle

Target shoppers in 21 states are being alerted to check their pantries as nearly 200,000 cans of Good & Gather Cut Green Beans have been pulled from shelves due to potential contamination with an unspecified foreign object.

Key Takeaways

The FDA has announced a Class II recall of 197,808 cans of Target’s Good & Gather Cut Green Beans due to potential foreign object contamination.
The recall affects products with Lot number 7AA 418507, UPC: 0 85239-11628 9, Best by date: 10/28/2026, distributed across 21 states.
The FDA classifies this as a Class II recall, indicating “probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote” with no reported illnesses so far.
Del Monte Foods, Inc. manufactured the affected products, which were exclusively distributed to Target stores.
Foreign object contamination is relatively rare, accounting for just over 4% of food recalls last year compared to undeclared allergens (34.1%) and listeria (22%).

Recall Details and Affected Products

The Food and Drug Administration announced that Del Monte Foods, Inc. has initiated a recall of nearly 200,000 cans of Target’s private label Good & Gather Cut Green Beans. The recall was prompted by the discovery of potential contamination with an unidentified foreign object. Consumers should look for products with the specific identifiers: Lot number 7AA 418507, UPC code 0 85239-11628 9, a best-by date of October 28, 2026, and packaged in 14.5-ounce (411 gram) cans.

The affected green beans were distributed to Target stores across 21 states, including Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin. While the FDA has described the recall as “ongoing,” specific instructions for consumers regarding product returns or refunds have not yet been provided by either Target or Del Monte Foods.

FDA Announces Recall of Almost 200,000 Cans of Green Beans Due to Potential Foreign Object Contamination https://t.co/5UTcK7wU59 via @Allrecipes

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Health Risk Assessment

The FDA has categorized this as a “Class II” recall, which indicates a situation where exposure to the contaminated product “may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences” but where the “probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.” This classification suggests a moderate health risk that is less severe than a Class I recall, which would indicate a reasonable probability that exposure to the product would cause serious adverse health consequences or death.

Despite the potential health concerns, federal officials have reported no illnesses or injuries associated with consumption of the affected green beans as of the recall announcement. The FDA has not disclosed the specific nature of the foreign object that prompted the recall, which is unusual compared to other recent cases where contaminants were identified, such as the “wood-like material” found in recently recalled Lean Cuisine and Stouffer’s frozen meals.

Context of Food Recalls in America

Foreign object contamination represents a relatively small percentage of food recalls in the United States, accounting for just over 4% of all recalls last year. By comparison, undeclared allergens were the leading cause of food recalls in 2023 at 34.1%, followed by listeria contamination at 22%. Target’s green bean recall comes amid several other recent food safety actions, including Trader Joe’s Gerolsteiner sparkling water (potential glass bottle cracking), Whole Foods macaroni and cheese bites (undeclared egg and meat), and SeaBear Company seafood chowder (potential botulism risk).

While food safety experts typically advise consumers to discard or return recalled products to their place of purchase, neither Target nor Del Monte Foods has issued specific guidance for this recall. Both companies have remained silent on the issue, with representatives not responding to media requests for comment. Consumers who have purchased the affected green beans are advised to check their pantries for the specific lot number and best-by date, and to follow standard recall procedures of not consuming the product.