The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has put out a public alert for Trader Joe’s chicken pilaf over claims it may contain rocks.

USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) issued the nationwide warning on possible contamination of the popular snack on February 7, 2024.

A consumer who ate the frozen ready-to-eat food complained of teeth injury and reported of stones in the dish.

FSIS has not recalled the product with a production date ending January 19, 2024 because Trader Joe’s no longer sells it. 

However, consumers should return packages with the USDA inspection number P-45322 wherever they come across it. The precaution applies across the United States as the product batch in question was already distributed nationwide before the recall. 

Chicken pilaf is a meat pilau that contains chunks of chicken with lentil and onion in caramel. It comes in ready-to-consume 14-ounce packets that also contain basmati rice in saffron, dates and other ingredients.

Second Food Recall

This is not the first time that a Trader Joe’s fast food product has attracted a food recall. In July 2023, the food retailer pulled back to the shelf a double cookie on concerns of containing rocks. 

The specific products included Almond Windmill Cookies and Dark Chocolate Chunk Cookies, both best before October 21, 2023.

The United States is strict on sensitive packed consumer food and regularly alerts the public on contaminated batches. In April 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recalled ground cumin by Lipari brand to stem salmonella infections.

Rocks and Food

Given the alert on potential rock-strewn foods, it is noteworthy that some rocks and foreign objects are common in food. These include plant stalks, bones and in animal gastronomy, gastoriths.

Gastoriths apply only to animals and not in humans. They are the stones that chicken and birds swallow and store up in their gizzards for grinding wholesome food.

In human food, rocks are foreign objects and may lead to injuries. People who accidentally consume actual rocks in commercial food can claim for damages through personal injury lawyers.

Timely recalls of rock-contaminated food such as Trader Joe’s action on chicken pilaf, reduces the extent of long-term liability.