Recall: Trader Joe’s Just Recalled 3.3 Million Pounds of Frozen Fried Rice—Here’s What You Need to Know
Nobody wants to find glass in their dinner. Like, ever. But that’s exactly what happened to four unlucky customers who bought Trader Joe’s frozen chicken fried rice. And now? Over 3.3 million pounds of the stuff is being yanked off shelves faster than you can say “grocery run.”
If you’ve got a bag of this frozen fan-favorite chilling in your freezer right now, don’t panic—but definitely keep reading. This recall is serious, and you’ll want to know if your dinner plans just got derailed.
Why Is Trader Joe’s Chicken Fried Rice Being Recalled?
Here’s the deal: Ajinomoto Foods North America (the company that makes TJ’s chicken fried rice) got hit with four separate consumer complaints about glass showing up in their product. Glass. In food. Not exactly the “surprise ingredient” anyone was hoping for.
According to the USDA, approximately 3,370,530 pounds of frozen chicken fried rice got the boot on February 19, 2026. The good news? No injuries have been reported yet. The bad news? That’s still a whole lot of potentially contaminated rice floating around out there.
Trader Joe’s sent out an email alert to customers on February 20, and they didn’t waste any time getting the word out. You can also find the official notice on their website if you want to double-check the details yourself.
Which Stores Sold the Recalled Fried Rice?
If you shop at Trader Joe’s anywhere in the United States, this recall affects you. The frozen chicken fried rice was distributed to TJ’s locations nationwide—from California to New York and everywhere in between.
Some of the product also made its way to Canada, but here’s the thing: in the U.S., Trader Joe’s is the only retailer selling this particular Ajinomoto Foods product. So if you bought frozen chicken fried rice from anywhere else, you’re in the clear.
How Do I Know If My Fried Rice Is Part of the Recall?
Time to play detective in your freezer. Grab that bag of chicken fried rice and flip it over to check the label. Here’s exactly what you’re looking for:
Product Name: Trader Joe’s Chicken Fried Rice
Package Size: 20-ounce plastic bag
SKU Number: 33251
Best By Dates: Anything between 9/08/26 and 11/17/26
If your bag matches these details, it’s part of the recall. And yes, even if it looks totally fine, you shouldn’t eat it. Glass contamination isn’t something you can eyeball—it’s sneaky like that.
What Should I Do If I Have the Recalled Product?
First things first: Do. Not. Eat. It. I don’t care how hungry you are or how much you love that fried rice—just don’t risk it. Glass in your digestive system is not a fun time, trust me.
You’ve got two options here:
- Toss it: Just throw the bag away. Make sure it’s sealed up so nobody else accidentally grabs it from the trash (because, you know, people are weird sometimes).
- Return it: Bring it back to any Trader Joe’s location and get a full refund. No receipt needed, no questions asked. TJ’s is pretty chill about returns, especially when it comes to recalls.
And hey, if you already ate some of the fried rice and you’re feeling off—stomach pain, nausea, anything unusual—please see a doctor. Better safe than sorry.
Who Can I Contact If I Have Questions?
Got concerns? Trader Joe’s Customer Relations is standing by to help. You can reach them at 626-599-3817 (Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time). Or, if you’re more of an email person, hit up their product feedback portal on the Trader Joe’s website.
For general food safety questions (because let’s be real, this whole situation probably has you thinking about food safety in general), you can call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-674-6854. They’re the experts, and they’re there to help.
The Bottom Line
Glass contamination is no joke, and Trader Joe’s is doing the right thing by pulling this product immediately. Sure, it sucks if you were planning on that fried rice for dinner tonight, but it’s way better to be safe than to end up with a serious injury.
So do yourself a favor: check your freezer, toss (or return) any affected bags, and maybe grab a different frozen meal for tonight. There are plenty of other delicious options at TJ’s that don’t come with a side of potential injury.
Stay safe out there, folks. And maybe give your frozen food a little extra scrutiny for the next few weeks—just in case.
