Consumers warned not to eat popular Trader Joe’s product over concerns of unknown ingredients
Pizzas from popular food store Trader Joe’s have been recalled over fears they could be unfit to eat.
The US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a public health alert for a frozen not-ready-to-eat uncured pepperoni pizza.
Health inspectors found that the product imported from Italy did not receive the benefit of an import reinspection.
Inspections on foreign foods are designed to identify potential safety problems before they arrive in the US.
Food imports entering the USA can be rejected for issues related to undeclared allergens, bacterial contamination, incorrect nutritional information and compromised packaging.
Trader Joe’s said the the product did not go through the mandatory US import reinspection because of a ‘paperwork error.’
‘Due to a paperwork error, a shipment of Trader Joe’s Uncured Pepperoni Pizza, imported from Italy was not presented for import reinspection into the United States prior to delivery to these Trader Joe’s stores in Southern California,’ a spokesperson told Newsweek.
The alert applies to 17.63oz boxes of ‘Trader Joe’s Uncured Pepperoni Pizza Product of Italy’ carrying either manufacturing lot code 06/16/25 with a best-by date of 08/16/26 or lot code 06/21/25 with a best-by date of 08/21/26.
The US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a public health alert for a frozen not-ready-to-eat uncured pepperoni pizza sold at Trader Joe’s
The packaging also displays the code ‘IT 1558 L UE’, which is printed inside the Italian mark of inspection located on the front of the package.
The pizzas were shipped from Italy to retail locations in California.
The problem was discovered when FSIS was notified by Trader Joe’s that the frozen pizza product was not presented for FSIS import reinspection.
To date, there have been no confirmed reports of illness or adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.
Anyone concerned about an illness or reaction has been advised to contact a healthcare provider.
A recall was not requested because the product is no longer available for purchase.
However, FSIS is concerned that some products may be in consumers’ freezers.
Consumers who have purchased this product are urged not to consume it.
This product should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.
The problem was discovered when FSIS was notified by Trader Joe’s that the frozen pizza product was not presented for FSIS import reinspection
All commercial shipments of imported meat, poultry, and egg products must be inspected by FSIS before going on sale in the US.
For food products that do not involve meat, poultry, or eggs, inspection responsibility falls to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
FSIS inspectors verify the general condition, labeling, and any signs of tampering on each shipment.
They may also perform random or for-cause physical examinations and laboratory sampling to check for pathogens and chemical residues.
If a product doesn’t meet FSIS requirements, it is refused entry.
The importer then has a limited time to either have the product destroyed for human food, re-exported, converted to animal food, or brought into compliance if possible.
