If you’ve got a bag of Trader Joe’s Chicken Fried Rice sitting in your freezer right now, don’t eat it. The product is being recalled nationwide after four customers reported finding glass inside, and federal food safety officials say there’s a reasonable probability it could cause serious harm if consumed.
The manufacturer, Ajinomoto Foods North America, initiated the voluntary recall on February 19 after receiving those complaints. No injuries have been confirmed so far, but the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service didn’t treat it lightly. The agency classified this as a Class I recall, which is the most serious designation it issues and the one reserved for products with a credible risk of severe health consequences or death.
The affected product comes in a 20-ounce plastic bag labeled “Trader Joe’s Chicken Fried Rice with stir fried rice, vegetables, seasoned dark chicken meat and eggs.” All recalled packages were produced between September 8 and November 17, 2025, and carry Best By dates ranging from 9/8/2026 through 11/17/2026. The SKU number on the bag is 33251, and packages also carry USDA establishment number P-18356 inside the USDA mark of inspection. That’s the fastest way to check.
Ajinomoto is a Portland, Oregon-based company that also produces a Japanese-style yakitori chicken fried rice under its own brand name, and that product was recalled as well, though it was shipped exclusively to Canadian retailers and isn’t part of the U.S. issue.
The scale of this thing is worth noting. Ajinomoto and the USDA are pulling approximately 3,370,530 pounds of product, which amounts to more than 3.3 million pounds of frozen rice that may have glass in it. The FSIS said it’s concerned recalled packages could still be sitting in retailer freezers and in people’s homes, which is why it’s urging anyone who bought the product to either throw it away immediately or return it to any Trader Joe’s location for a full refund, no questions asked.
This isn’t Trader Joe’s first recall rodeo. The company logged 10 product recalls in 2025 alone, covering everything from peaches and turkey wraps to acai bowls flagged for possible plastic contamination and salad dressings pulled over undeclared allergens. Most of last year’s recalls involved possible listeria contamination. Glass is a different category of problem entirely.
Anyone with questions about the recall can contact Trader Joe’s directly at (626) 599-3817. If you’ve already eaten the product and you’re experiencing abdominal pain, bloating, blood in your stool, or fever, get to a doctor.
Still not as dangerous as the rice’s sodium content! Salty!
Without tasting it, I am very aware of TJ’s high sodium content.
So, I heartily concur.
TJ’s is a glorified liquor store with a salty food aisle!