Trader Joe's Recalls Chicken Soup Dumplings Over Plastic Contamination
A food recall has been issued for over 60,000 pounds of Trader Joe's Steamed Chicken Soup Dumplings, the USDA's Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) announced on March 2. The company that produced the product in question, the CJ Manufacturing Beaumont Corporation, recalled outgoing shipments following consumer complaints that pieces of hard plastic — reportedly from a permanent marker pen — were found within the TJ's appetizer. Unfortunately, the recall was not initiated until after these consumer complaints came in, and while they've been pulled from shelves, they were shipped nationwide to stores and may still be sitting in customer's homes.
The dumplings were produced on December 7, 2023, and the specific recalled goods are the 6-ounce boxes of "Trader Joe's Steamed Chicken Soup Dumplings" marked with the lot codes 03.07.25.C1-1 and 03.07.25.C1-2. The FSIS recommends that anyone in possession of the recalled product either throw it out or return it to the store where they purchased it.
How unsafe are the recalled dumplings?
Where biological food hazards include things like bacteria and fungus, physical hazards (like those hard plastic pieces) are foreign objects that can cause internal injury if ingested. Some physical food hazards, while offputting are not considered dangerous, like finding a hair in your soup. But others, like those discovered in the dumplings related to the Trader Joe's product recall, could incur such damage, so it's imperative all due caution is exercised. Other physical food hazards include jewelry, bandages, and even naturally formed objects like bones in fish. These all pose a potential risk of choking or cutting someone who consumes them.
No injuries have been reported from the tainted Trader Joe's product. The FSIS recommends that anyone experiencing any kind of injury as a result of consuming the frozen meal contact a healthcare provider immediately. Customers who have concerns about the recall can contact CJ Foods Manufacturing Beaumont Corporation's Consumer Experience Department by calling (800) 544-6855.
Are any other products affected?
The FSIS is concerned that some may have a box of the withdrawn product sitting in their freezer right now. If you have recently purchased Trader Joe's Steamed Chicken Soup Dumplings, it's worth taking a look at the lot code on the merchandise to make sure it's safe, and any box that bears them should be discarded. There has been no indication from the FSIS that any other products were affected, so if you're looking through your freezer and see this item, it should be perfectly fine to consume unless it's one of the specific dumplings mentioned above.
Food recalls happen occasionally, but it doesn't mean you should be concerned with Trader Joe's products in general. Make sure you don't have the specific recalled product, then go ahead and enjoy your favorite Trader Joe's items with confidence that they will be a safe, tasty meal.