Ready-to-eat chicken fried rice sold at Trader Joe's stores across the United States is beingrecalleddue to possible glass contamination, according to a notice shared on the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service website.
Ajinomoto Foods North America, an Oregon-based food manufacturer, notified the FSIS after receiving customer complaints.
Four customers reported finding glass in the products, although there have been no confirmed reports of injuries, according to the notice the FSIS shared on Feb. 19.
"FSIS is concerned that some products may be in retailers' or consumers' freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them," the notice reads. "These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase."
The FSIS notice, which includes information about another recall, did not detail how many pounds or units of the rice have been recalled from Trader Joe's.
USA TODAY contacted Trader Joe's on Feb. 20, but has not received a response.
Consumer Reports, the nonprofit known for testing and monitoring consumer-facing policy and products, released its annual risky food report in April, naming the 10 foods of 2024 that were subject to the most recalls and/or associated with the largest illness outbreaks. USA TODAY broke it down further on a what-you-need-to-know basis. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Deli meat is somewhat of a "risky" food as it is often associated with the spread of listeria, such as in the 2024 case of the Boar's Head listeria outbreak that killed 10. Listeria monocytogenes is a hardy germ that can survive in very low temperatures but thrives in cool and damp places. It can, and will, happily live on foods in your or your grocery store's storage area, and the process for mass-producing the meat lends itself to plenty of opportunities for contamination." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Produce, like the cucumbers recalled due to a salmonella outbreak that infected 113 people across 23 states, can become adulterated with harmful bacteria through fecal contamination, which can occur through wastewater, water in the growing area, fertilizer and the proximity of the growing area to livestock." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Raw dairy, which is always unsafe to consume and illegal to sell in some states, poses a risk when it's not pasteurized. Dairy pasteurization, or heating milk products to a high enough temperature to kill harmful bacteria, has been practiced since the 1920s and has resulted in illnesses commonly spread via milk, such as listeriosis, diphtheria and tuberculosis, becoming less prevalent." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Cotija and queso fresco cheese are made from unpasteurized milk, meaning they carry an increased risk. One producer, Rizo-Lopez Foods, was shut down in October 2024 after its cheeses were linked to a years-long listeria outbreak that killed two people and made dozens of others sick." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Eggs can become contaminated via the same means as cucumbers and other raw produce, especially if they have a cracked shell. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Like other raw produce, onions can become infected via fecal contamination. In 2024, E. coli-contaminated slivered onions on McDonald's Quarter Pounders triggered some locations to stop serving the burger temporarily. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Like cucumbers and onions, leafy greens are easily contaminated with bacteria like E. coli, as in the case of the Solata Foods spinach recall in 2024. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Organic carrots were linked to a major E. coli outbreak in late 2024, leaving at least 39 ill and one dead. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Ready-to-eat/cooked poultry and meat have been the source of multiple major recalls and foodborne illness outbreaks in recent years. The same issue arises with RTE foods as with deli meat; the conditions they are made and stored under are often ideal for bacteria such as listeria to grow. In 2024, millions of pounds of RTE foods were recalled by BrucePac for listeria contamination. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> See the 'risky foods' linked to US recalls and illness outbreaks
Consumer Reports, the nonprofit known for testing and monitoring consumer-facing policy and products, releasedits annual risky food reportin April, naming the 10 foods of 2024 that were subject to the most recalls and/or associated with the largest illness outbreaks. USA TODAYbroke it down furtheron a what-you-need-to-know basis.
How do I know if I have the recalled fried rice?
The recalled fried rice comes in a green 20-ounce plastic bag that reads "Trader Joe's Chicken Fried Rice with stir fried rice, vegetables, seasoned dark chicken meat and eggs."
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The "best if used by" dates on the package are Sept. 8, 2026, through Nov. 17, 2026.
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Ajinomoto Foods North America said customers who have questions can contact the company at 855-742-5011 or email atcustomercare@ajinomotofoods.com.
Consumers with food safety questions can also call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-674-6854 or email questions toMPHotline@usda.gov.
There's also an Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System that customers can use to report issues with meat, poultry or egg products atwww.foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov.
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Trader Joe's chicken fried rice recalled. Here's why.
