British consumers are being urged to conduct an immediate check of their freezers following a critical product recall from popular American grocery chain Trader Joe's. The retailer has issued an urgent "do not eat" warning for its Fully Cooked Pizza with Pepperoni due to potential metal fragment contamination.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has escalated the alert, warning that the affected products "may contain pieces of metal" and pose a serious health risk to consumers. This development has raised concerns among UK shoppers who frequently purchase imported American food products.
Affected Product Details
The recall specifically targets Trader Joe's Fully Cooked Pizza with Pepperoni bearing the lot code 24-097 and best before date of 04/09/2025. The frozen pizza comes in a 14.5-ounce (411-gram) package and was available for purchase at various specialty grocery stores across the United Kingdom.
Customers who have purchased this product are advised not to consume it under any circumstances. Instead, they should return it to the place of purchase immediately for a full refund or dispose of it safely.
Official Health Warning
The FSA stated in its official alert: "Trader Joe's is recalling its Fully Cooked Pizza with Pepperoni because it may contain pieces of metal, making it unsafe to eat." The agency emphasized that consuming products containing metal fragments could lead to serious injuries, including dental damage, internal cuts, or other health complications.
While no injuries have been reported in connection with this recall to date, the precautionary measure reflects the serious nature of the potential contamination.
What Consumers Should Do
Food safety experts recommend that UK consumers take the following immediate actions:
- Check your freezer for the affected product using the lot code and best before date provided
- Do not consume the pizza if it matches the recall details
- Return the product to the store for a full refund or dispose of it properly
- Monitor official FSA channels for any updates on the recall
This incident serves as a reminder for all consumers to remain vigilant about product recalls and food safety alerts, particularly when purchasing imported specialty items that may have different manufacturing and quality control standards.
