Over the past week, a series of popular food brands have issued recalls for popular products sold at major retailers.
From Trader Joe’s to Whole Foods 365 brand, federal officials are encouraging consumers to take a look at some of their food items that may be unsafe to consume. If you purchased any of the recalled products below, the best course of action is to not consume them and throw them away, or return to the store for a full refund.
Food recalls have sparked serious concern in recent months, as many high-profile brands and retailers had to pull products from shelves, from Boar’s Head cold cuts to International Delight coffee creamer and Pearl Milling pancake mix.
It turns out that food recalls are on the rise, and notably, the number of serious illnesses related to recalls increased last year. According to research from PIRG, a consumer advocacy group, hospitalizations and deaths from food contaminated with salmonella, listeria, E. coli and other bacteria increased by 41% in 2024, with 13 outbreaks causing almost all these illnesses.
So far, the major food recalls this week include water from Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods 365 mac and cheese bites and two types of bagged chowders sold in several states.
Here’s what to know.
Trader Joe’s Gerolsteiner sparkling water
Gerolsteiner sparkling water bottles were recalled March 13 due to a possible laceration hazard, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced.
Manufacturer Gerolsteiner noted in its announcement that they “discovered that in rare cases, cracks can occur in the bottom of the glass bottles.”
“Due to this anomaly, leaks or fractures could occur, presenting a laceration hazard. Gerolsteiner has received no reports of injury as a result of this issue,” the company continued.
The recall affects Gerolsteiner 750 milliliter sparkling water bottles from two lots. The bottles were sold as single bottles or in cases of 15. The label is red, white and blue with the name “Gerolsteiner” written across the front.
Affected lot numbers, which can be found on the lower part of the bottle’s label, contains 11/28/2024 L or 11/27/2024 L, according to the CPSC.
The impacted bottles were sold at Trader Joe’s grocery stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas from December 2024 through January 2025.
“Gerolsteiner in the meantime has identified and rectified the problem. The cracks in the bottom of the bottle are due to quality deviations at one of the suppliers with whom we have an ongoing business relationship,” the company wrote. “Batch/lot numbers other than the one identified above are not affected.”
365 Whole Foods Market Small Bites Macaroni And Cheese
C.H. Guenther & Son LLC is recalling 365 Whole Foods Market Small Bites Macaroni & Cheese due to possible egg and meat ingredients that were not listed on the label.
“People who have allergies to eggs run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product,” the company said in a statement.
The product was sold at Whole Foods Market stores nationwide from Feb. 6 to March 11, according to the company. The UPC Code is 99482499709, while the Best By date is Nov. 29, 2025.
No illnesses have been reported at this time, the announcement noted.
The company initiated the recall after a customer complained of meat in the food, saying the product was “not a macaroni and cheese bite.”
“This issue has been corrected and no other manufacturing dates or lots are impacted,” the company added.
Seabear Smoked Salmon Chowder and Alehouse Clam Chowder
Seabear Company issued a recall for its Smoked Salmon Chowder and Alehouse Clam Chowder due to possible contamination with the bacteria clostridium botulinum.
Exposure to the bacteria can lead to a condition called botulism, a “potentially fatal form of food poisoning,” according to the announcement. It can cause general weakness, dizziness, double-vision, trouble with speaking or swallowing, difficulty in breathing, weakness of other muscles and constipation.
Anyone who experiences any of these symptoms after consuming the Smoked Salmon Chowder or the Alehouse Clam Chowder should seek immediate medical attention, the Food and Drug Administration advised.
The Washington-based company warned consumers to not consume either chowder, even if the product does not look or smell spoiled.
The chowder products are packaged in a 12-ounce dark blue pouch. The UPC code for the affected Salmon Chowder product is 0 34507 07001 3. The affected Alehouse Clam Chowder’s code is 0 34507 07021 1. Both products had best-by dates ranging from October 2028 to January 2029.
The full list of affected lots is available on the FDA site.
SeaBear initiated the recall after a customer complained of a pouch seal issue, the company noted. “Upon further investigation, they identified a mechanical issue with equipment, which caused seals to not fully bond and made some pouches leak.”
