Ajinomoto Foods North America Expands Recall Of Frozen Meals Over Glass Contamination

PORTLAND, Ore. (March 4, 2026) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has announced an expanded recall of frozen meals produced by Ajinomoto Foods North America due to potential contamination with glass fragments. Regulators said the recall now includes millions of pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) and not-ready-to-eat (NRTE) chicken and pork fried rice, ramen, and shu mai dumpling products. According to FSIS, the company first issued a recall on February 19, 2026, and expanded the action after additional products were identified as potentially contaminated.

Ajinomoto Foods North America recall: quick summary

The FSIS expanded the recall to cover approximately 36,987,575 pounds of frozen meals that may contain glass, a serious foreign material hazard. The recalled items were produced between October 21, 2024, and February 26, 2026, with best-by dates ranging from February 28, 2026, through August 19, 2027. Products bear USDA establishment numbers P‑18356, P‑18356B, or P‑47971 inside the inspection mark. The affected items were shipped to retail locations nationwide, and some were exported to Canada and Mexico. FSIS said no injuries have been reported, but consumers should not eat the recalled products and should return them to the place of purchase or dispose of them safely.

What happened?

FSIS said that Ajinomoto Foods North America, based in Portland, Oregon, initiated the expanded recall after receiving multiple consumer complaints of glass fragments in its frozen meals. The recall, originally announced on February 19, 2026, now includes additional fried rice, ramen, and shu mai items produced between October 2024 and February 2026.

The company discovered the issue during routine quality control checks and an investigation of consumer reports. FSIS confirmed that a vegetable ingredient (specifically carrots) was identified as the likely source of the glass contamination. The recalled products were distributed nationwide, and certain items were exported to Canada and Mexico.

In its recall alert, FSIS warned, “There is a reasonable probability that use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death” if the contaminated food is consumed.

Affected products

Brand	Product	Size	UPC	Best by date	Issue	Affected states or zones
Ajinomoto	Chicken fried rice	Various	Varies	Feb. 28, 2026 – Aug. 19, 2027	Glass contamination	Nationwide (U.S.) & export
Kroger	Fried rice/ramen	Various	Varies	Feb. 28, 2026 – Aug. 19, 2027	Glass contamination	Nationwide (U.S.)
Ling Ling	Fried rice/ramen	Various	Varies	Feb. 28, 2026 – Aug. 19, 2027	Glass contamination	Nationwide (U.S.)
Tai Pei	Fried rice	Various	Varies	Feb. 28, 2026 – Aug. 19, 2027	Glass contamination	Nationwide (U.S.)
Trader Joe’s	Frozen meals	Various	Varies	Feb. 28, 2026 – Aug. 19, 2027	Glass contamination	Nationwide (U.S.)

What caused the issue?

According to FSIS, glass fragments in a vegetable ingredient (carrots) led to the recall. The agency confirmed that consumption of glass-contaminated food poses risks of oral, esophageal, or gastrointestinal injury, as well as choking hazards. While no illnesses have been reported, consumers should monitor for injuries and seek medical care if needed. Children, older adults, and individuals with swallowing difficulties are most at risk.

Questions you might have

Here’s what you should do

• Do not eat recalled products.
• Dispose safely or return to the retailer for a refund.
• Check labels for establishment numbers and best-by dates.
• Contact Ajinomoto Foods North America Consumer Affairs: (855) 742-5011 or [email protected].

Behind the brand

Ajinomoto Foods North America, a subsidiary of the global Ajinomoto Group, specializes in frozen and prepared meals. The company has ceased distribution of affected products and is working closely with FSIS to remove them from the market. Source86 reached out for comment on the cause but has not received a detailed response.

Other relevant recalls

Recent recalls of frozen and packaged foods due to foreign material contamination highlight ongoing challenges in supply chain management and ingredient traceability. Most recently, Ajinomoto Foods North America expanded its recall of chicken and pork fried rice, ramen, and shu mai products due to possible glass contamination. Other incidents include Dollar General recalling Clover Valley® Instant Coffee after potential glass fragments were discovered, JJ Nuts issuing a recall for MAGIC FLAME Sunflower Kernels for the same reason, and Upper Crust Bakery pulling frozen bread products due to glass contamination concerns.

“As more companies begin using technologies, such as X‑ray and other detection methods, a lot of contamination that avoided detection previously will be detected,” said Shawn Stevens, founding member of Food Industry Counsel LLC, highlighting industry trends around foreign material contamination in food supply chains.

Eran Mizrahi, CEO of Source86, added:

“Food safety isn’t just about compliance; it’s about trust. Every recall reminds us how vital it is to maintain transparency, rigorous checks, and supplier accountability.”

Regulatory context

This recall adds to a series of Class I recalls in recent months, emphasizing FSIS’s commitment to rapid response and preventive controls in the food industry.

Ensuring safe eats

Consumers should immediately identify and safely dispose of, or return, recalled products.

At Source86, we help food brands manage ingredient sourcing, FSQA oversight, and private label production with transparency and precision, ensuring supply chains can respond quickly to recalls. Contact us.