Trader Joe's Recalls Popular Salad Item Sold In 18 States

Trader Joe's said that 500 units of "Sesame Miso Salad with Salmon” potentially have a milk allergen in them.

Published: 5/1/2025, 2:05:09 AM EDT

Trader Joe's Recalls Popular Salad Item Sold In 18 States — A package of Sesame Miso Salad with Salmon that are being recalled. (FDA)

Trader Joe’s announced on April 28 that it was recalling a popular salad sold in 18 states.

"Certain packages of Sesame Miso Salad with Salmon (SKU 77316) may contain an undeclared allergen (milk) because 500 units of the salad were mistakenly packaged with a sealed packet of parmesan cheese crumbles instead of a packet of crispy onions," the store said in an April 29 recall notice.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also posted an announcement on the voluntary recall of the salad on the same day.

“People who have sensitivity or allergy to milk may be at risk of an adverse reaction if they consume this product,” the FDA said.

The grocery store further informs its shoppers that the salad was sold in the states of Alaska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.

“You may discard [the product] or return it to your neighborhood Trader Joe’s store for a full refund,” Trader Joe’s website states.

No Reports of Adverse Reactions

To date, the FDA said there had been no reported adverse reactions to the product.

"The number of people directly impacted will likely be relatively small as this is a perishable product with limited distribution and a short shelf life," Darin Detwiler, a Northeastern University professor, food safety expert, and Alliance for Recall Ready Communities adviser, told NTD on April 30.

"However, for those with milk allergies, the risk is significant—and even one allergic reaction is too many."

The 10-ounce salad package, produced by Taylor Fresh Foods Illinois, is a blend of vegetables with onions and a sesame miso dressing.

Trader Joe’s did not respond to requests for comment, while Taylor Fresh Foods Illinois and the FDA declined to comment further.

Other Recalls

This isn’t Trader Joe’s first recall for 2025.

The company recalled hot honey mustard dressing in March due to the presence of undeclared allergens.

"Due to a labeling error, certain bottles of Hot Honey Mustard Dressing (SKU 80152) may contain undeclared allergens (peanut, sesame, soy, and wheat)," Trader Joe’s said in a March 29 recall notice.

In February, Trader Joe’s was also among the grocery stores selling Tri-Union Seafoods canned tuna products that the manufacturer recalled due to possible contamination by a bacterium that causes botulism.

WebMD defines botulism as a condition that can cause paralysis by attacking the body's nerves, which is caused by neurotoxins released by Clostridium botulinum bacteria.

The canned tuna was sold under the Genova®, Van Camp’s®, H-E-B, and Trader Joe’s brand names.

“The 'easy open' pull tab can lid on limited products encountered a manufacturing defect that may compromise the integrity of the product seal (especially over time), causing it to leak, or worse, be contaminated with clostridium botulinum,” the FDA said on its website on Feb. 10.

No illnesses were reported, and consumers were warned not to use the product even if it did not smell or look spoiled.

“Consumers feeling unwell should seek immediate medical attention,” the company statement said.

The Trader Joe brands of tuna cans that were recalled at the time were Trader Joe’s Solid Light Yellowfin Tuna in Olive Oil, Trader Joe’s Solid White Tuna in Olive Oil, Trader Joe’s Solid White Tuna in Water, Trader Joe’s Solid White Water Low Sodium, Trader Joe’s Solid White Water No Salt Added.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.