By Martha McHardy
US News Reporter
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a public health alert for a frozen Trader Joe's pepperoni pizza imported from Italy after it was discovered that the product had not undergone the mandatory U.S. import reinspection.
Trader Joe's told Newsweek the the product did not go through the mandatory U.S. import reinspection due to a "paperwork error."
"Due to a paperwork error, a shipment of Trader Joe's Uncured Pepperoni Pizza, imported from Italy was not presented for import reinspection into the United States prior to delivery to these Trader Joe's stores in Southern California," a spokesperson said.
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"There have been no reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. All potentially affected product has been removed from sale."
Why It Matters
The USDA's reinspection process is a key safeguard designed to ensure that imported meat and poultry products meet U.S. safety standards.
Skipping this step raises concerns because potential hazards—such as contamination or labeling issues—may go undetected before products reach consumers.
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What To Know
FSIS is urging consumers not to eat the pizzas and instead to throw them away or return them to the store of purchase.
The alert applies to 17.63-ounce boxes of "Trader Joe's Uncured Pepperoni Pizza Product of Italy" carrying either manufacturing lot code 06/16/25 with a best-by date of 08/16/26 or lot code 06/21/25 with a best-by date of 08/21/26. The packaging displays the Italian establishment number "IT 1558 L UE" within the inspection mark on the front of the box.
According to an April 2025 survey by Hungry Howie's, one of the largest U.S. pizza chains, pepperoni remains the most popular topping for the nation's pizza eaters, followed by extra cheese, mushrooms, and onions.
FSIS said the issue came to light after Trader Joe's notified the agency that the frozen pizzas had been imported without being presented for the required reinspection process, which applies to all meat and poultry products entering the U.S.
The FSIS requires that all imported meat, poultry, and egg products undergo a mandatory import reinspection before entering U.S. commerce, unless specifically exempted.
When a shipment arrives, FSIS inspectors first conduct a document review to verify that the product is accompanied by a foreign inspection certificate issued by a government agency from a country with FSIS-equivalent inspection standards.
Next, inspectors perform a physical inspection at the port of entry, checking the shipment itself. They verify packaging, labeling, lot counts, and product condition to ensure compliance with U.S. requirements.
Approved shipments receive an official inspection mark, allowing legal entry into the U.S. marketplace.
The process ensures imported products meet U.S. food safety, labeling, and composition standards, helping to prevent the importation of contaminated, misbranded, or unsafe foods.
What Happens Next
Consumers are being advised to check their freezers and dispose of the affected product.
Update 09/01/25, 09:38 a.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from Trader Joe's.
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