In a startling revelation, over 61,000 pounds of Trader Joe's chicken soup dumplings have been pulled from shelves due to a recall for potentially containing pieces of hard plastic. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service, the foreign material in question is specifically hard plastic from a permanent marker pen. An announcement made Saturday has led to consumers being asked to inspect their freezers for the affected product.
The recalled dumplings, weighing in at 6 ounces and branded under Trader Joe's, are a product of the California-based CJ Foods Manufacturing Beaumont Corp. The dumplings were produced on December 7, 2023. Concerned shoppers can identify the products by locating lot codes 03.07.25.C1-1 and 03.07.25.C1-2 on the side box labels. In a move to ensure customer safety, Trader Joe's is urging customers to either dispose of the dumplings or return them to any store for a full refund.
Reports from customers who discovered hard plastic in their dumplings spurred the recall, although, to date, there have been no reported illnesses or injuries related to the product. "Customer safety remains our No. 1 priority," a spokesperson for CJ Foods Manufacturing Beaumont Corp. emphasized in a statement obtained by KENS 5. The company is actively investigating the manufacturing process failure that led to the contamination issue.
Recalls initiated due to foreign object contamination are not uncommon, as such events rank among the top reasons for food recalls in America today. Beyond plastic, items like metal fragments and other "extraneous" materials have been known to find their way into packaged food products, causing distress for both consumers and manufacturers. Trader Joe's has taken to their online platforms to notify the public, providing information on the recall and options for those affected by it. More information on the recall can be found in an article on Fortune.
