Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
In late July this year, Trader Joe's issued four voluntary recalls over the course of one week. Customers were warned that their Almond Windmill Cookies, Dark Chocolate Chunk and Almond Cookies, and Fully Cooked Falafel "may contain rocks" and their Unexpected Broccoli Cheddar Soup "may contain insects."
Only a few weeks later, Trader Joe's recalled their Multigrain Crackers with Sunflower and Flax Seeds because they "may contain metal" and their Gourmet Black Bean Tamales for undeclared milk.
Trader Joe's has removed all products from all of their stores, and they urge customers to either throw them away or bring them to the store for a full refund. You can find details about each of the recalls in the "Good to Know" box below.
Simply Recipes / Myo Quinn
What You Should Know About Trader Joe's Recalls
Trader Joe's noted that for all of these recalls, "no known adverse health effects have been reported to date, and all potentially affected product has been removed from sale and destroyed." The company self-reported the issues after vendors alerted them.
The New York Times recently reported on Trader Joe's recalls and wrote: "Although the nature of the recalls are unusual, customers should not be alarmed....these types of recalls are not considered high risk in the same way that food-borne illnesses like E. coli and salmonella are."
Most food recalls in the U.S. tend to fall into one of three scenarios: the product is mislabeled, contains undisclosed allergens, or is contaminated. According to U.S. PIRG Education Fund, a non-profit that provides research and public education for consumers, about 42% of food recalls in 2022 was due to undeclared allergens that can be quite serious to those that suffer food allergies.
"After allergens, the other leading reasons for food recalls/alerts in 2022: Listeria (15%), Salmonella (13%) and foreign objects in the food (9%)."
If you love to shop at Trader Joe's, you can learn about their recalls in three ways: in-store signs, the recall section on Trader Joe's website, and by signing up to e-mail alerts at the bottom of their homepage. Customers with questions or concerns about the recalls can contact Trader Joe's Customer Relations at (626) 599-3817 Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PST or send them an email.
The Recalled Trader Joe's Products
Check your pantry, fridge, and freezer for the following recalled Trader Joe's products:
- Almond Windmill Cookies with a sell-by date between October 19, 2023 and October 21, 2023.
- Dark Chocolate Chunk and Almond Cookies with a sell-by date between October 17, 2023 and October 21, 2023.
- Unexpected Broccoli Cheddar Soup with a use-by date between July 18, 2023 and September 15, 2023.
- Fully Cooked Falafel sold only in the following states: AL, AR, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, Washington DC, and WI.
- Multigrain Crackers with Sunflower and Flax Seeds with a use-by date between March 1, 2024 and March 5, 2024.
- Texas Tamale Company Gourmet Black Bean Tamales with a best-before date before June 19, 2025 sold only in AL, AR, CO, KS, LA, NM, OK, TN, and TX stores.
