If you’ve stashed away a frozen pepperoni pizza from Trader Joe’s, you may want to double-check the box. The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a public health alert for a specific imported pizza product that skipped a key inspection step.
The issue isn’t with the ingredients or contamination, but with the procedure. The frozen pizzas, which were imported from Italy, never went through the USDA’s required reinspection process after entering the U.S. These inspections are meant to verify proper labeling, certification, and general product condition—basically a final checkpoint before food hits store shelves.
California Trader Joe’s shoppers should check their freezers for:
- Product name: Trader Joe’s Uncured Pepperoni Pizza, Product of Italy
- Lot codes and dates:
- MFG Lot 06/16/25, Best-by 08/16/26
- MFG Lot 06/21/25, Best-by 08/21/26
- Inspection mark: “IT 1558 L UE” inside the Italian inspection logo on the front of the package
While there’s no official recall in place (the product is no longer being sold), the FSIS still recommends caution. If you have one of these in your freezer, don’t eat it. You can either discard it or return it to Trader Joe’s for a refund.
No illnesses have been reported so far, but the missing reinspection means there’s no USDA-confirmed safety check.
Why This Alert Matters
Reinspections on imported meat and poultry aren’t just red tape—they’re a safeguard. Missing that step means the product bypassed the system meant to catch labeling errors or mishandling during shipping. Even if the risk is low, the alert exists to err on the side of safety.
This is not the first time imported goods have tripped over U.S. food safety processes, and it won’t be the last. But if you shop at Trader Joe’s and love their frozen lineup, this is one worth checking your freezer for—just to be safe.
Sources: USDA, All Recipes