Trader Joe’s recalls hot honey mustard dressing due to undeclared allergens

• Date Issued: March 30, 2025
• Announced By: FDA on March 31, 2025
• Company: Fresh Creative Foods
• Product: Trader Joe’s Hot Honey Mustard Dressing
• Issue: Undeclared allergens (peanuts, soy, sesame, and wheat)
• Product Details:
  • Use By Date: 05/27/2025
  • Distributed To: Select Trader Joe’s locations across AR, CO, DC, DE, FL, GA, KS, LA, MA, MD, NC, NM, OH, OK, PA, SC, TX, VA
• Action: Customers can return it for a refund or discard it
• Contact: Fresh Creative Foods at 888-223-2127 (Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM PT)

Stick around to find out more about this recall!

What happened?

Fresh Creative Foods has issued a voluntary recall for Trader Joe’s Hot Honey Mustard Dressing due to a labeling error that left out crucial allergen information. The dressing, sold at select Trader Joe’s locations, contains peanuts, soy, sesame, and wheat—ingredients that could cause serious reactions in those with allergies.

The issue was discovered internally by Fresh Creative Foods, and while no customer complaints have been reported, the company is taking swift action to ensure consumer safety.

Product details:

Brand	Product	Size	UPC	Best By Date	Issue
Trader Joe’s	Hot Honey Mustard Dressing	N/A	N/A	05/27/2025	Undeclared Allergens

What caused the issue?

This recall stems from a labeling error, which failed to highlight the presence of peanuts, soy, sesame, and wheat. These allergens pose a significant risk to individuals with food allergies, potentially leading to mild to severe reactions.

The risks and who’s affected

People with allergies to any of the undeclared ingredients could experience:

• Mild reactions: Itchy skin, hives, sneezing, or digestive discomfort
• Severe reactions: Difficulty breathing, throat swelling, or anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening
• At-risk groups: Individuals with diagnosed food allergies, young children, elderly consumers, and those with compromised immune systems

While no illnesses have been reported yet, anyone with a peanut, soy, sesame, or wheat allergy should avoid consuming this product.

10 common questions you might have

1. How do I know if I have the recalled product?
   • Check the use by date on the label. If it says 05/27/2025, your product is part of the recall.
2. What should I do if I already ate the dressing?
   • If you don’t have allergies, there’s no issue. If you do, monitor for symptoms and seek medical help if necessary.
3. Where can I return the product?
   • Any Trader Joe’s location where the product was sold will accept returns for a full refund.
4. What happens if I accidentally consume the dressing and have an allergy?
   • Symptoms may range from mild (itchiness, nausea) to severe (difficulty breathing). If symptoms occur, seek medical attention immediately.
5. Are there other affected Trader Joe’s products?
   • As of now, no other Trader Joe’s products are included in this recall.
6. Can I still use the dressing if I don’t have allergies?
   • Yes, but Trader Joe’s encourages customers to return or discard it due to the mislabeling.
7. How did the mistake happen?
   • A labeling error at the production facility resulted in missing allergen information on the packaging.
8. What measures are being taken to prevent this from happening again?
   • Fresh Creative Foods and Trader Joe’s are reviewing their labeling process to prevent future errors.
9. Where can I get more details about the recall?
   • You can check the official FDA recall notice for more information.
10. Who should I contact for more information?
    • Fresh Creative Foods’ customer service at 888-223-2127 (Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM PT).

Here’s what you should do

If you have purchased Trader Joe’s Hot Honey Mustard Dressing with the Use By Date of 05/27/2025, follow these steps:

• Do not consume it if you have allergies to peanuts, soy, sesame, or wheat
• Check the label for the use by date to confirm if your product is affected
• Return it to Trader Joe’s for a full refund or discard it safely
• Contact Fresh Creative Foods at 888-223-2127 for any questions or concerns

Behind the brand

Fresh Creative Foods, based in Vista, CA, is known for producing a variety of specialty food products. While this is not a widespread issue, food recalls due to undeclared allergens are not uncommon.

Similar recalls have occurred recently:

• On March 25, 2025, The Bakery Group, based in Dallas, TX, issued a recall for two of its bakery products due to undeclared allergens (milk, soy, and Yellow FD&C #5).
• On March 11, 2025, Liaoning Cheng Da USA Inc. of San Gabriel, California, issued a recall for its Wangzhihe Hot Pot Sauce due to undeclared peanut, soy, sesame, and wheat.

These incidents highlight the importance of rigorous labeling practices to ensure consumer safety.

“Making sure consumers are safe begins with transparent and accurate labeling. When allergens aren’t properly disclosed, people with food allergies face serious health risks, and trust in food brands is weakened. This recall underscores the importance of strict quality control and precise labeling to safeguard public health and maintain industry standards.” — Eran Mizrahi, CEO of Source86.

Ensuring safe eats

Food recalls like this reinforce the importance of accurate labeling and strict quality control measures in food production. Companies must prioritize transparency to protect consumers, especially those with allergies. If you are in the food industry, this recall is a reminder to double-check ingredient disclosures and labeling compliance to avoid similar issues.

Quick takeaways:

• Undeclared allergens pose a serious risk to consumers
• Proper labeling and quality control are crucial in food manufacturing
• If you have the recalled product, return or dispose of it immediately

At Source86, we prioritize food safety and transparency in ingredient sourcing. Need reliable, high-quality ingredients? Let’s talk!