Trader Joe's Officially Removes Popular Holiday Snack from Shelves

Each holiday season, Trader Joe's introduces a variety of festive treats, but this year, one fan-favorite will be missing from the lineup. Last week, a Reddit user on the Trader Joe's subreddit shared that the chain's Candy Cane Joe Joe's cookies were removed due to quality issues. "The manufacturer apparently added too much peppermint, making them unsellable," the user explained. "I respect the commitment to quality, but these cookies are a holiday tradition for me. Ill have to muster some extra patience this season."

Trader Joe's has since confirmed this report. The chocolate sandwich cookies, filled with vanilla creme and candy cane bits, will not be available this season, a company representative told PEOPLE on Tuesday. "This year, Candy Cane Joe Joes didnt meet our standards, so we decided not to stock them," the spokesperson said. "Our holiday cookie selection remains extensive, offering many delicious options; we hope customers discover new favorites."

While the spokesperson did not specify exactly where the cookies fell short, they highlighted Trader Joe's stringent quality checks. "We search globally for products our customers will enjoy," they said. "Each item goes through a detailed tasting panel process, assessing quality, flavor, and price before it reaches our shelves. Even once in stores, products are continually sampled to maintain these standards."

Some shoppers on Reddit and other platforms reported purchasing or spotting Candy Cane Joe Joe's before the removal. Others mentioned seeing gluten-free or chocolate-covered versions of the cookies. A recent store visit confirmed the presence of Candy Cane Joe Joe's ice cream, though the cookies themselves were not observed.

This story first appeared in the Food section of Men's Journal on Dec 2, 2025.

Author: Sophia Brooks