Trader Joe’s Recalls Tamales, the Company’s Sixth Since July

Trader Joe’s has issued a recall of a model of black bean tamales, the sixth merchandise that the favored grocery chain has recalled since July.

The firm mentioned final week that it had recalled packages of Texas Tamale Company Gourmet Black Bean Tamales as a result of they may comprise undeclared milk.

“Individuals with an allergy or heightened sensitivity to milk run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products,” the Food and Drug Administration mentioned in a assertion.

The affected tamales had been stuffed with white cheese and hatch inexperienced chiles as an alternative of black beans, the F.D.A. mentioned.

Trader Joe’s mentioned that no sicknesses had been reported in reference to the newest recall and that each one doubtlessly affected merchandise had been faraway from sale.

Customers have been warned in latest weeks that different merchandise may need been contaminated with rocks, bugs and metallic.

In July, Trader Joe’s mentioned that it had eliminated cookies as a result of they could have contained rocks and its Unexpected Broccoli Cheddar Soup as a result of it could have contained bugs. On Aug. 17, Trader Joe’s mentioned that its multigrain crackers with sunflower and flax seeds had been recalled due to potential metallic contamination.

The remembers have led to some concern amongst followers of the grocery chain, which has greater than 500 shops throughout the nation and is understood amongst loyal clients as a hub for distinctive snacks and ready-to-eat meals. Its reputation has even spawned Trader Joe’s meals evaluate Instagram accounts with lots of of hundreds of followers.

Nakia Rohde, a spokeswoman for Trader Joe’s, mentioned in a press release on Wednesday that “we err on the side of caution and are proactive in addressing issues. We voluntarily take action quickly and aggressively — investigating potential problems and removing a product from sale if there is any doubt about its safety or quality.”

She added that the corporate doesn’t “wait for regulatory agencies to tell us what to do,” and that it shares news of remembers by way of in-store indicators, on its web site and through e mail alerts.

“The close timing of these recalls is coincidental,” Ms. Rohde mentioned.

Darin Detwiler, an affiliate professor of meals security and company social accountability at Northeastern University, mentioned that “in a way, it’s good” that Trader Joe’s remembers are so public and clear as a result of “it’s a sign that things are working.”

“Trader Joe’s is doing a great job in making sure that if they have to do a recall, not only do they do it, but they communicate it as well as they can,” Dr. Detwiler mentioned.

He added that such remembers are frequent in grocery shops, however shops with identify manufacturers like Trader Joe’s obtain extra consideration. Dr. Detwiler additionally famous that the supply of the remembers has been from Trader Joe’s suppliers, that are smaller and usually not related to different shops.

Still, he mentioned, many of the gadgets folks purchase at Trader Joe’s are ready-to-eat meals or commercially packaged items, which implies there are extra manufacturing and processing steps concerned in these merchandise. Those additional steps imply there are “more opportunities for there to be” errors like rocks or metallic ending up in a product.

“The fact that this company is being as public and transparent as they are is a very good sign,” Dr. Detwiler mentioned.

He added, “This just happens to be a bad string of hits for them.”