A Public Health Alert Has Been Issued for a Popular Trader Joe’s Salad Due to an Undeclared Allergen

There’s nothing quite as easy as grabbing a pre-made container or bagged salad kit for a quick and simple lunch without all the chopping and dicing of veggies. These are a really popular option for any of us trying to avoid the expense and chore of takeout from a local salad shop. But for those of you who buy a specific pre-made salad from Trader Joe’s, you may need to temporarily shift your choice.

The USDA has issued a public health alert on Trader Joe’s Caesar Salad with White Chicken Meat and Creamy Caesar Dressing. This is because there’s potentially egg in the Caesar dressing, but this ingredient was not disclosed on the label. This can be dangerous for anyone allergic to eggs, but also an issue for anyone who is on a diet that eliminates eggs for any other reason.

The salad in question is specifically the 9-ounce plastic clamshell containers of the salad with the establishment number “P-46987” inside the USDA mark of inspection. The pre-packaged salads were available at Trader Joe’s stores in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, with best-by dates of 07/11/22 and 07/12/22.  

These salads are no longer available for purchase — which is why this is called an alert and not a recall — but it is something to look out for if you still have them at home. If you have an allergy or aversion to eggs, it’s a good idea to toss the salads or return them to the store for a refund.

This isn’t the first time that Trader Joe’s has gone through an issue such as this with their pre-made salads. In May, their Lemony Arugula Basil Salad Kit was recalled, also for undisclosed potential allergens in the ingredients.

If you’re looking for a homemade salad to hold you over until TJ’s brings back this one, this cucumber salad or this green fruit salad could definitely do the trick.