Trader Joe's Recalls Peanut Butter Over Salmonella Concerns

D.C. area stores take one house brand off the shelves and offer refunds.

Trader Joe’s corporate officials say they are acting “out of an abundance of caution” and ordering the recall of one type of its house brand peanut butter over salmonella concerns. “Trader Joe’s Creamy Salted Valencia Peanut Butter” should not be eaten, the Monrovia-based specialty grocery chain said. “We have no confirmed information that suggests this peanut butter is unsafe to eat,” the company stated. But the food should not be eaten “pending health-related inquiries.” Trader Joe’s has several stores in the D.C. area—including Foggy Bottom, Old Town, Clarendon, Bethesda and Falls Church. The Food and Drug Administration posted the company’s voluntary recall on its web site, but did not comment on the company’s statement. The potential …

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Lettuce Voluntarily Recalled for E. Coli Risk

No illnesses reported after Tanimura & Antle shipment went to 19 states, including Virginia.

Tanimura & Antle Inc. has voluntarily recalled a single lot of romaine lettuce in 19 states—including Virginia—because it may be contaminated with E. coli, according to the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA said the recall affects only Tanimura & Antle Field Fresh Wrapped Single Head Romaine. The lettuce from the California-based company is packed in a plastic bag with the UPC number 0-27918-20314-9 and may have a "best by" date of Aug. 19. The FDA said the product was available at retail locations from Aug. 2 to 9. A total of 1,969 cases were shipped to Virginia, Maryland and surrounding states, according to the FDA. In Virginia, the company distributes its lettuce at Costco, Harris Teeter, Kroger, Safeway, Trader Joe's and Walmart, …

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Do You Prefer Whole Foods or Trader Joe's? Vote Now!

Voting is open in our Readers' Choice poll through Aug. 24.

Readers' Choice: Vote for the Best Grocery Store

Patch readers nominated the best grocery stores in Arlington. Now it's your turn to determine which one is the Readers’ Choice 2012 winner.

What is the best grocery store in Arlington? Cast your vote to let us know. Patch is relaunching its Readers’ Choice program and we’re asking you, your friends, family, neighbors, coworkers and anyone else who knows about the area to participate. Nominations were accepted on Clarendon-Courthouse-Rosslyn Patch and Ballston-Virginia Square Patch through July 9 and include: Winners in all Readers' Choice categories will be announced on Aug. 24. Sign up for the Clarendon-Courthouse-Rosslyn Patch and Ballston-Virginia Square Patch newsletter to get community information and updates on the Readers' Choice contest. The poll will open to accept votes from registered Patch users starting on July 23 and close at 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 17.

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An Open Letter to Trader Joe's: Please Install Wi-Fi

Patch welcomes letters to the editor. Email letters to jason.spencer@patch.com. We reserve the right to edit for accuracy, clarity and brevity.

The following letter was submitted to Clarendon Patch on Friday. Links and photo added by Patch. An Open Letter to Trader Joe's: I am thrilled that you opened a store in my neighborhood. I frequent it often for everything from veggies to wine. One problem: In your Clarendon location there is no cell phone reception. I have made numerous requests in person for the store to supply free Wi-Fi. So many times I have needed to Google a recipe and I couldn't because my phone didn't work. This is frustrating to me, and I often don't spend as much money as I could if I could access those recipes. Last night I stopped by to pick up some avocados for my lunch today. All of the avocados were still hard. No problem, I thought, I know how to make them …

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Trader Joe's Opens in Clarendon

Store brings unique items, fun atmosphere to a pedestrian- and Metro-accessible area.

Shoppers poured in by the dozen to be welcomed with leis and greeted by live music as the new Trader Joe's in Clarendon opened Friday morning after months of anticipation. "I've been waiting for this to open. I'm so excited!" said Helena Newmann of Clarendon. "I don't have to drive to get groceries any more. And I love the stuff they have here." The 12,300-square-foot grocery store takes up the first floor of the Clarendon Center's South Block. The store, at 1109 N. Highland St., is immediately across the street from the Clarendon Metro. Metro-themed artwork decorates the walls above the dairy and produce sections, complete with Metro markers indicating what section you're in. The art will occasionally change and update over time. "Our …

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Trader Joe's to Open New Clarendon Store Friday

Day-long celebration features live music, food demonstrations.

The popular Trader Joe's chain of grocery stores will open its new Clarendon location at 1109 N. Highland St. at 8 a.m. Friday with a day-long celebration. The store, which is about 10,300 square feet plus another 2,000 square feet in storage space, will occupy the first floor of the Clarendon Center's South Block building immediately across from the Clarendon Metro. It will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. “Bringing grocery stores into our urban villages, where they can help achieve our goal of creating walkable, transit-oriented communities, is a high priority for the County,” said then-Arlington Board Chairman Jay Fisette in November, when the county gave the business approval to move forward with its plans. Monrovia, Calif.-based …

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Jason Spencer

12:46 pm on Thursday, November 17, 2011

It's right off the Orange Line. Come visit!   more ›

Five Things: Oct. 20, 2011

Five things to know about what's going on in and around Arlington.

1. Starting Oct. 31, Harry's Tap Room in Clarendon will undergo a three-week transformation and will emerge as the Market Tavern, Eater DC reports. The remade restaurant is expected to open by Nov. 21. 2. Democratic state Senate candidate Barbara Favola won two endorsements this week. The Washington Post praised Favola, saying she "would be effective in the Senate from Day 1." The Sun Gazette's support was less glowing: "This is not a slam-dunk endorsement; each candidate brings strengths and weaknesses. On balance, however, we opt for Favola in hopes she will grow in stature in the capital as she has, over the years, on the Arlington board." Clarendon Patch and Ballston Patch do not endorse candidates. 3. ARLNow.com spotted a "now hiring…

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