Trader Joe’s Recall: Millions of Pounds of Frozen Foods Pulled from Shelves in 43 States
A widespread recall affecting millions of pounds of frozen foods sold at Trader Joe’s stores across 43 states, including Rhode Island and Massachusetts, has been issued due to the potential presence of “foreign objects,” specifically glass fragments. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) initially announced the recall on February 19th, and it has been significantly expanded since then.
Initial Recall & Expansion
Ajinomoto Foods North America, Inc., based in Portland, Oregon, initially recalled 3.3 million pounds of frozen chicken fried rice products. This has since grown to nearly 37 million pounds of ready-to-eat and not ready-to-eat chicken and pork fried rice, ramen, and shu mai dumpling products sold at both Trader Joe’s and Kroger stores. A recent FDA enforcement action on March 20th added over 400,000 cases of Trader Joe’s Vegetable Fried Rice to the growing list.
Potential Hazard & Consumer Advice
The recalled products may contain pieces of glass ranging from 1 to 3 centimeters in length. Joseph Wendelken, a spokesman for the Rhode Island Department of Health, urges consumers to discard any potentially affected Ajinomoto Foods products immediately. “Recalls of frozen foods are always a concern,” Wendelken stated, “because unlike fresh foods, people may forget about having purchased these products a while ago and have them stored in the back of the freezer.”
Affected Products – Check Your Freezer!
The list of recalled items is extensive. Consumers are strongly encouraged to check the FDA website for a complete and up-to-date list: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls.
Staying Informed
The Rhode Island Department of Health posts food recalls on its social media accounts, and comprehensive information on food safety can be found on their website: https://health.ri.gov/food-safety. The FDA website (https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls) is also a valuable resource for staying informed about food recalls nationwide.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
