Trader Joe's Recalls 4 Frozen Food Products Over Glass Contamination

The recall is part of a wider action involving nearly 37 million pounds of food products distributed by Ajinomoto Foods.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Trader Joe's has recalled four of its frozen food products - Chicken Fried Rice, Vegetable Fried Rice, Japanese Style Fried Rice, and Chicken Shu Mai - due to potential contamination with glass. The recall is part of a larger action by Ajinomoto Foods North America, which is recalling nearly 37 million pounds of various ready-to-eat and not-ready-to-eat chicken and pork fried rice, ramen and shu mai dumpling products sold under multiple brand names.

Why it matters

The recall highlights the importance of food safety and the potential risks associated with mass-produced frozen foods. Trader Joe's has a reputation for quality, so this incident could impact consumer trust in the brand. The wider Ajinomoto recall also raises questions about supply chain oversight and quality control in the frozen food industry.

The details

Trader Joe's said the recall was issued 'out of an abundance of caution' after receiving consumer complaints about finding glass in the products. The affected Trader Joe's items have best-by dates ranging from March 2026 to October 2027. Ajinomoto, the company that produces the recalled items, said the likely source of the contamination was carrots in the products.

  • The initial Trader Joe's recall was issued on February 20, 2026.
  • The expanded recall was announced on March 4, 2026.

The players

Trader Joe's

A popular grocery store chain known for its unique food products and private-label items.

Ajinomoto Foods North America

The company that produced the recalled frozen food products, which are sold under various brand names including Ajinomoto, Kroger, Ling Ling and Tai Pei.

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What they’re saying

“We err on the side of caution and are proactive in addressing issues. We voluntarily take action quickly, aggressively investigating potential problems and removing the product from sale if there is any doubt about its safety or quality.”

— Nakia Rohde, Spokeswoman, Trader Joe's (The New York Times)

What’s next

Federal safety regulators are continuing to investigate the source of the glass contamination and the full scope of the Ajinomoto recall.

The takeaway

This recall underscores the need for robust quality control measures in the frozen food industry to ensure consumer safety. It also highlights the importance of transparency and swift action by companies when potential issues are identified.