WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration is warning food service operators to not use Uncle Ben’s Infused Rice Mexican Flavor sold in 5-lb and 25-lb bags. The products have been associated with a cluster of illnesses in Texas.

On Feb. 7, the F.D.A.’s Coordinated Outbreak Response and Evaluation Network was notified of a cluster of illnesses at three schools in Katy, Texas. Thirty-four students and four teachers experienced burning, itching rashes, headaches and nausea for 30 to 90 minutes, before the symptoms went away. Uncle Ben’s Infused Rice Mexican Flavor with the lot number 351EKGRV01, made by Mars Foodservices of Greenville, Miss., was the common food item eaten by the students who became ill.

The product may have been associated with illness outbreaks in Illinois and North Dakota. On Dec. 4, the Illinois Department of Public Health notified the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of 25 children with similar skin reactions following a school lunch that served an Uncle Ben’s Infused Rice product. North Dakota reported a similar incident that occurred on Oct. 30. Three children in a daycare and one college student experienced flushing reactions 45 minutes after consuming an Uncle Ben’s Infused Rice product.