Trader Joe’s Expands Recall of Vegetable Fried Rice Due to Glass Contamination
WASHINGTON — A recall of Trader Joe’s Vegetable Fried Rice has been significantly expanded due to potential glass shards in the product, now encompassing nearly 10 million additional pounds. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) initially reported the issue on March 20, listing 9,885,240 pounds – approximately 411,885 cases – of the frozen rice under recall number H-0592-2026.
Affected Products and Dates
The recalled Trader Joe’s Vegetable Fried Rice is sold in 1-pound frozen bags with a UPC of 00521482. Best-by dates range from February 28, 2026, through November 19, 2026. Consumers are urged not to consume the product and to either discard it or return it to the place of purchase.
Recall Details and Class II Classification
The voluntary recall was initiated on March 3 by Ajinomoto Foods North America Inc., the manufacturer that produces frozen foods for multiple grocery brands, including Kroger. The FDA has classified this as a Class II recall, indicating a remote probability of serious adverse health consequences, although the possibility of injury remains.
Source of Contamination
Investigations have identified contaminated carrots as the source of the glass shards, which are described as being 1 to 3 centimeters long and 2 to 4 millimeters wide.
Broader Recall Impact
This expansion follows a previous recall announced on March 4, which broadened the initial recall of 3.4 million pounds of frozen chicken fried rice to include 16 products totaling nearly 37 million pounds. These products, spanning brands like Ajinomoto, Kroger, Ling Ling, Tai Pei, and Trader Joe’s, include various fried rice, ramen, and shu mai dumpling dishes.
Additional Recalled Trader Joe’s Products
Other Trader Joe’s products currently under recall include Chicken Fried Rice, Japanese Style Fried Rice, and Chicken Shu Mai.
Geographic Distribution and Consumer Information
The recalled vegetable fried rice was distributed across 43 states: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
As of now, no injuries have been reported in connection with the recalled products. Consumers with questions can contact Ajinomoto’s consumer affairs division at (855) 742-5011 or via email at customercare@ajinomotofoods.com.
Hunter Bassler contributed to this report.