Trader Joe's recalls frozen item that ‘may contain' plastic, removes product from shelves
(NEXSTAR) – Trader Joe's has issued a recall of its Organic Acai Bowls over the potential that the product may contain plastic, the company announced late last week.
A representative for Trader Joe's told Nexstar on Thursday that the frozen product had been removed from sale as of Feb. 14 and is not currently available at stores.
'Out of an abundance of caution, please discard any Trader Joe's Organic Acai Bowls, as the product may contain foreign material (plastic), or return them to your neighborhood Trader Joe's store for a full refund,' reads an announcement posted to TraderJoes.com.
Trader Joe's is opening a dozen new locations in 2025: Here's where
Customers who purchased any Organic Acai Bowls from Trader Joe's — regardless of the purchase date or best-by dates — should heed the recall announcement, a representative for Trader Joe's indicated. The representative did not say when, or if, the company plans to return the bowls to shelves.
Trader Joe's said customers with concerns can contact its customer relations department via phone or email.
Trader Joe's limiting egg sales nationwide
The recall of Trader Joe's Acai Bowls was announced only days after several brands of canned tuna — including varieties sold at Costco and Trader Joe's locations in multiple states — were recalled over a manufacturing defect. The defect, which concerned the pull tab on the tuna cans, was said to potentially 'compromise the integrity of the product seal (especially over time), causing it to leak, or worse, be contaminated with clostridium botulinum, a potentially fatal form of food poisoning,' according to Tri-Union Seafoods of El Segundo, California, which initiated the recall.
The recall notice, published by the Food and Drug Administration, indicated the tuna had also been sold under the Genova, Van Camp's, and H-E-B brand names.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hill
3 days ago
- The Hill
Lyme-disease isn't the only tick-borne threat. Doctors warn these other diseases are spreading
(NEXSTAR) – You've likely heard public health officials' repeated pleas to check yourself, your kids and your pets for tick bites, which can spread serious diseases. While Lyme disease gets the most attention – and affects the most people – there are other tick-borne bacteria and diseases that have also been found spreading in the U.S. Just last month, Connecticut researchers said they identified the first case of a longhorned tick infected with a pathogen called ehrlichia chaffeensis. Infections can give people fever chills, headaches, muscle aches and stomach issues. 'We also worry about a parasite called Babesia, which causes a disease called Babesiosis,' said Nicole Baumgarth, a professor of molecular microbiology and immunology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, in a recent briefing on tick-borne illnesses. The same ticks that carry the bacteria that cause Lyme disease can carry this parasite, which then infects people's red blood cells, causing anemia and other 'very serious consequences,' Baumgarth said. Some people infected by the parasite may feel flu-like symptoms, explains the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, while others may have no symptoms at all. That's a problem if people live with the parasite and then donate their infected blood, which can cause harm to the people who receive it as a transfusion. Baumgarth also warned of viruses that can be spread by ticks, such as tick-borne encephalitis. It's an infection that can cause inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. It's a bigger problem in Europe than in the U.S., she said, but here we have Heartland virus and Powassan virus to contend with. 'Both viruses are still very rare, but we have seen our first case of Heartland virus in Maryland last year, and the fact that we are now seeing these virus infections in areas that we haven't seen them before, it probably indicates the tip of the iceberg,' said Baumgarth. Because these viruses are rarer, and their symptoms can be non-specific, doctors don't usually think to test for them, Baumgarth explained. Many cases of Heartland and Powassan virus could be left uncounted as a result. 'So it would be rare that we diagnose it because we are not looking hard enough for it right now,' she said. Both viruses can present with generic first symptoms like fever, headache and vomiting, but can cause serious illness if left unchecked. Powassan virus could lead to seizures, loss of coordination and confusion in severe cases where the brain and spinal cord are impacted. Yet another concern is the tick that can cause people to become allergic to red meat if they're bitten. It's called alpha-gal syndrome and is caused by bites from the Lone Star tick, first identified in Texas. However, this type of tick is 'very aggressively' moving north and becoming a problem in other regions of the country, according to Baumgarth. Some of these rare viruses don't have a treatment or cure, so prevention is what's most important, the CDC says. You should avoid ticks by wearing long sleeves and pants in bushy and wooded areas, using bug repellent, and doing a thorough tick check after spending time outside.
The Hill
4 days ago
- The Hill
Hundreds of pharmacies are set to close: How it could impact you
(NEXSTAR) — Several retail pharmacy chains have shuttered some of their stores this year, with more on the way for others, like Rite Aid, which filed for bankruptcy in May. It could create what some refer to as 'pharmacy deserts,' areas in which drugstores and the additional services they provide may not be available for miles. And in areas where other pharmacies are picking up the slack, it could have an impact on current customers. 'Closures of major chain pharmacies often create ripple effects across the community,' E. Michael Murphy, an assistant professor of clinical pharmacy at The Ohio State University, told Nexstar via email. Nearby pharmacies, independent or part of a chain, can see 'a sudden increase in patients,' he explained, which could 'lead to longer lines, and increase strain on the health care team.' It could also disrupt your medical care. Shuttering pharmacies in larger cities, like New York City and Philadelphia, may have limited impacts. Take, for example, a Rite Aid located in Philadelphia that has been designated for closure. A three-minute walk down the road will take you to a Walgreens and a local pharmacy. Within smaller communities, that may not be the case. Customers may need to drive to a nearby town to pick up their prescriptions, which 'could have some negative consequences on their adherence to their medication,' Lucas A. Berenbrok, an associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, explained to Nexstar. 'For those without reliable transportation, especially older adults or people with disabilities, traveling even a few extra miles can be a serious barrier,' Murphy said. That could lead to delayed access to prescriptions and missed dosages. Closing pharmacies also reduces health access points for people. In addition to filling prescriptions, pharmacies are able to provide vaccines, chronic disease management, urgent consultations, over-the-counter treatments, and certain health tests. 'There's a lot more going on at the pharmacy now than ever before,' Berenbrok explained, outlining how pharmacists helped to administer the COVID vaccine during the pandemic, for example, and the additional services they can provide in some states. He went on to explain that while online pharmacies can help fill the void of shuttered drugstores, they're largely unable to accommodate the additional services pharmacies provide. 'They also assume reliable internet access, digital literacy, and stable housing, which are barriers for many vulnerable patients,' Murphy said. 'For communities losing local pharmacies, online options may fill part of the gap but cannot replace the full range of services a community pharmacist provides.' Berenbrok agreed that mail-order pharmacies have 'a time and place' because of their convenience, but they require planning ahead, which may not be useful for certain medications like antibiotics. If your pharmacy is closing soon, Murphy recommended being proactive and asking your pharmacist where your prescriptions are being sent and whether that pharmacy has your insurance and medication history. He also encouraged asking for a 90-day supply or mail-order option for prescriptions if transportation is a concern. Chains poised to take on former Rite Aid clients, like CVS and Walgreens, say they're prepared to welcome new customers. Even if your prescriptions are not moving to a new pharmacy, you may want to make sure your prescription is being filled a day or two before you need it rather than the same day that your current supply runs out, Berenbrok said. Then, if you're short on time and facing a long line, you won't miss a dose. Murphy also suggested contacting elected officials and urging them to take action. 'While pharmacists are committed to stepping up to meet the need, without adequate state and federal policy changes to address the broken business model that caused the pharmacy to close in the first place, we will continue to see pharmacies close and patients having to navigate the loss of their trusted health care professional.'
The Hill
6 days ago
- The Hill
More cucumber products recalled as salmonella outbreak expands
(NEXSTAR) — Additional cucumber products have been recalled over concerns of potential salmonella contamination as a multistate outbreak expands. On Wednesday, Maryland-based TGD Cuts, LLC, issued a voluntary recall of sliced cucumber trays and salsa tubs over concerns that the cucumbers may be from Bedner Growers Inc. Cucumbers from the Florida-based grower have been linked to 45 cases of salmonella across 18 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Unlike previous recalls, Wednesday's may not impact the items in your refrigerator. The recalled products, listed below, were distributed to retail and foodservice locations in Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, the Food and Drug Administration notice reads. The salsas and trays are beyond their shelf dates, which ranged from May 20 to May 28, 2025. According to officials, no illnesses have been reported in connection with these items. Some of the salsa was sold under the brand name of Jean's Classy. If you have any of the items listed above, you are advised to discard them immediately or return them to the store where you purchased them for a full refund. This is the latest recall related to potentially contaminated cucumbers. Last week, fresh cucumber salads and vegetable trays sold at Kroger and its affiliated stores in nine states were recalled. Others impacted products include whole cucumbers; made-to-order subs, wraps, and paninis; fresh cut cucumbers sold at select Walmart stores in Texas; veggie and sushi products sold at Kroger, Roundy's, and Weis Market stores in 16 states; salads and salsa; and salads sold to foodservice distributors and supermarkets in eight states. It's caused by the salmonella bacteria, which the CDC estimates cause 1.35 million infections, 26,500 hospitalizations, and 420 deaths in the U.S. yearly. Salmonella infections are commonly associated with diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, according to the CDC. Symptoms can begin between six hours and six days after you've ingested the bacteria. Most people are able to recover without receiving treatment within four to seven days. Illnesses may be more severe for young children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. Some may require medical treatment or hospitalization, the CDC explains. Infections can only be diagnosed with a laboratory test of a person's stool, body tissue, or fluids. In an update last week, the CDC said 45 people across 18 states had been infected with the strain of salmonella linked to contaminated cucumbers. That's up from 26 people across 15 states reported the week prior. Eight people, who all departed from the same locations in Florida on cruises, reported becoming sick within a week of their trip. While three traveled on the same ship, the CDC says sick people were aboard six different ships total. Those ships departed between March 30 and April 12, and illnesses were first reported on April 2. Sixteen people have required hospitalization after becoming ill, but no deaths have been reported. Patients range in age from 2 to 84 years old. Those who got sick primarily live in Georgia and Florida, comprising seven and six of the confirmed cases, respectively. CDC data shows four residents from Illinois and Ohio also fell ill, as did three people each from New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Michigan and South Carolina each had two cases, while Alabama, California, Colorado, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, and Tennessee have all reported a single case. The CDC notes the true number of sick people connected to this outbreak may be higher, as some people are able to recover from a salmonella infection without seeking medical care. Additionally, it can take three to four weeks to determine that someone who is sick is connected to the outbreak.
