Item recalled at NC Trader Joe’s stores. What to know + how to get a refund
Trader Joe’s is recalling frozen rice products sold at stores in North Carolina and nationwide, and affected shoppers are eligible for a refund.
The neighborhood market, known for its affordable pricing and unique private-label items, pulled 20-ounce bags of its chicken fried rice due to potential contamination “with foreign material, specifically glass.”
The affected products have SKU number 33251 and “best by” dates between Sept. 8, 2026 and Nov. 17, 2026, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said. The recalled bags also have establishment number P-18356 in the USDA mark of inspection.
Trader Joe’s has nearly a dozen North Carolina locations, including stores in Raleigh, Cary, Charlotte and Winston-Salem.
In a Feb. 19 notice, the USDA said the issue was discovered after frozen food manufacturer Ajinomoto Foods North America, Inc. received four customer complaints about glass pieces in its rice products.
The Trader Joe’s-brand products were shipped to retail stores nationwide, the agency said.
“There have been no confirmed reports of injury related to the recalled product,” the grocery store shared in a message on its website.
Customers with affected bags of Trader Joe’s Chicken Fried Rice should throw them out, or return it to any Trader Joe’s store for a full refund, the company said.
Pricing information wasn’t immediately available, but similar products like Trader Joe’s Vegetable Fried Rice (16-ounce) typically cost around $2.99. For comparison, the brand’s BBQ Pork Fried Rice (16-ounce) was priced at $4.49 as of Feb. 24, according to Trader Joe’s website.
This story was originally published February 24, 2026 at 1:04 PM with the headline "Item recalled at NC Trader Joe’s stores. What to know + how to get a refund."