Over 3.37 million pounds of frozen chicken fried rice sold at Trader Joe’s nationwide have been recalled due to potential glass contamination, raising serious concerns about food safety standards and quality control in America’s frozen food industry.
Story Snapshot
- Ajinomoto Foods North America initiated a Class I recall—the highest risk category—affecting Trader Joe’s chicken fried rice products sold across the United States
- Four consumer complaints of glass fragments prompted the recall, with potential risks including mouth lacerations, throat damage, and intestinal perforation
- Products manufactured between September and November 2025, with best-by dates extending into late 2026, may still be sitting in home freezers
- No injuries reported yet, but USDA’s FSIS urges immediate disposal or return to stores for products with establishment number P-18356
Class I Recall Signals Serious Health Threat
The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service designated this a Class I recall, the most severe classification reserved for situations where there is a reasonable probability of serious adverse health consequences or death. This classification underscores the gravity of glass contamination in food products.
The recall affects Trader Joe’s branded 20-ounce packages of chicken fried rice sold nationwide, plus Ajinomoto-branded products shipped to Canada. Consumers should check their freezers immediately for packages with best-by dates ranging from September 8, 2026, to November 17, 2026, printed as 9/8/2026 to 11/17/2026 on the packaging.
Manufacturing Failures Expose Quality Control Gaps
Ajinomoto Foods North America, operating from Portland, Oregon, produced the contaminated products at establishment P-18356 during a two-month period last fall. The contamination likely stemmed from equipment breakage during production, though the exact source remains unconfirmed.
This incident raises legitimate questions about oversight in facilities producing millions of pounds of food products under private label arrangements. The fact that glass fragments made it through quality control systems into consumer packages demonstrates a troubling breakdown in basic safety protocols that American families depend on when purchasing convenient frozen meals.
Chicken fried rice sold at Trader Joe's and other retailers recalled because it could contain glass https://t.co/oQ6tZIarip
— CBS News (@CBSNews) February 21, 2026
Widespread Distribution Compounds Consumer Risk
The massive scale of this recall—3.37 million pounds—means potentially contaminated products reached freezer aisles nationwide and may still be in homes across America. Products labeled as “not-ready-to-eat” frozen meals containing rice, vegetables, seasoned chicken, and eggs were distributed broadly through Trader Joe’s retail network.
The extended best-by dates into late 2026 create additional risk, as consumers often store frozen products for months. FSIS explicitly warns consumers not to consume these products and instead throw them away or return them to stores immediately. This represents yet another example of how supply chain issues and quality control failures can directly threaten American families.
Economic and Trust Implications for Frozen Food Industry
This recall carries significant financial consequences beyond immediate disposal costs and lost sales, potentially totaling millions in product value. More critically, it erodes consumer trust in frozen convenience foods that many American families rely on during busy weekdays.
The incident highlights vulnerabilities in private-label production arrangements where retailers like Trader Joe’s depend on third-party manufacturers for supply. Such arrangements can create accountability gaps that ultimately harm consumers. The frozen ready-meal sector may face increased scrutiny and calls for stricter oversight, which, while burdensome for businesses, becomes necessary when basic safety standards fail.
Consumers who purchased the affected chicken fried rice products should contact Ajinomoto Foods at 855-742-5011 or [email protected] with questions. Anyone who consumed the product and experiences symptoms should consult medical professionals immediately.
The potential for dental damage, mouth lacerations, throat injuries, or intestinal perforation from glass fragments represents a real and serious health threat. This incident serves as a reminder that even established brands and popular retailers are not immune to dangerous manufacturing failures that put American consumers at risk.
Sources:
Trader Joe’s chicken fried rice recalled over potential glass contamination – CBS News
Trader Joe’s Chicken Fried Rice Recall – Good Housekeeping
Fried rice glass recall February 2026 – AARP
