By: Ella Alberts
OMAHA, Neb. — A series of food recalls reaching Nebraska is prompting questions about what ends up on grocery store shelves and how consumers can learn where their food comes from.
KCRA reported 162 food recalls nationwide through August 2026. One recall involving frozen berries affected 26 states, including a Trader Joe’s location in central Omaha that was identified as potentially connected to the risk of E. coli contamination.
A manager at the central-Omaha Trader Joe’s explained that the berry recall was tied to a specific lot. The product had been unavailable at the store for about a month, according to the manager.
A separate recall involving Taylor Farms lettuce also affected the Omaha area. The lettuce remained off shelves months later, adding to concerns about the reach and duration of food recalls.
For Omaha resident Cristy Viccaro, the recalls have added to broader questions about the food people eat. “Nowadays, it’s so scientifically altered, that you don’t necessarily get what you used to get out of it,” Viccaro said, comparing today’s food supply with the food eaten by her grandparents’ generation.
Local growers say consumers who want to know more about their food can ask questions about how it is produced. Michelle Brannen, owner of Benson Bounty Farm in Omaha, said local producers can offer customers a clearer picture of where their food comes from and how it is handled.
“We can provide the transparency that people are looking for,” Brannen said. She encourages customers to ask growers and producers how food is grown and prepared. For shoppers who want to check specific products, FoodSafety.gov posts recall notices from the Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Consumers can compare product names, lot numbers and expiration dates with the details in a notice to see whether an item is affected.
