NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – Frozen chicken pilaf sold nationwide by Trader Joe’s may contain rocks, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a public health alert Wednesday.
The product—Trader Joe’s Chicken, Lentil, & Caramelized Onion Pilaf—was produced on various dates from Nov. 1, 2023, through Jan. 19, 2024.
The ready-to-eat rice “may be contaminated with foreign material, specifically rocks,” according to the USDA alert.
The product comes in 14-ounce plastic packages and bears the establishment number “P-45322” inside of the USDA mark of inspection.
A recall of the product was not requested, as it is no longer available for purchase, according to the alert.
But officials are concerned consumers may have the product in their freezers, and they urged anyone who purchased it not to consume it and throw it away or return it to the place of purchase.
The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service received multiple consumer complaints about rocks in the pilaf, with one consumer reporting a dental injury after eating it, officials said. No additional injuries or illnesses have been reported.
Last year, Trader Joe’s issued two recalls for cooked falafel and cookies that the company warned may contain rocks.
Consumers with questions about the chicken pilaf alert can call the producing establishment, Mama Vicky’s, at 818-583-0003.
Consumers with food safety questions can also call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or live chat via Ask USDA from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday.