FSIS issues public health alert after Trader Joe’s frozen pepperoni pizza bypassed import reinspection

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service on Thursday issued a public health alert for a frozen, not-ready-to-eat uncured pepperoni pizza sold at Trader Joe’s after inspectors determined the product did not undergo the mandatory import reinspection.

According to the agency, the shipment was imported from Italy and was not presented for reinspection upon entry to the United States. Trader Joe’s said the failure to present the shipment for reinspection resulted from a paperwork error.

The FSIS public health alert warns that food imports that have not received required reinspections may pose safety risks, including exposure to undeclared allergens, bacterial contamination, incorrect nutritional information and compromised packaging. The alert did not specify reports of consumer illness linked to the product.

Trader Joe’s acknowledged the paperwork lapse in a statement to the FSIS and said it was working with the agency to determine the scope of the issue. The company did not immediately provide additional details about which stores received the shipment or how many units were affected.

FSIS public health alerts inform consumers, retailers and distributors about potential foodborne hazards and advise them to follow agency guidance. The agency maintains that import reinspections are an important control point intended to identify safety problems before products reach retail shelves.

Under U.S. import rules for meat and poultry products, shipments must be presented for inspection on arrival so federal inspectors can verify labeling, ingredient declarations and sanitary conditions. Products that fail reinspection can be refused entry or removed from commerce.

The alert follows increased scrutiny of imported food safety practices and comes amid broader enforcement efforts by federal agencies to ensure compliance with inspection and labeling requirements. Federal officials did not immediately provide a timetable for when the affected shipment was imported or list specific lot numbers in the initial alert.

Consumers who are concerned about whether they may have purchased the product are advised to consult the FSIS website for the latest guidance and to contact their local Trader Joe’s store for information on returns or refunds. Federal agencies encourage anyone who believes they may have become ill after consuming a suspect product to seek medical attention and report the illness to local health authorities.