Trader Joe’s has discontinued yet another beloved product, much to the dismay of its loyal customers. This time, the casualty is the grocery store’s “Just the Sauce: Turkey Bolognese” pasta sauce.
This tasty tomato-based Bolognese was made with ground turkey instead of the traditional beef or pork. It had a rich meaty flavor that was great tossed with pasta or used as a sauce for Sloppy Joes. Unfortunately, it is no more.
The news came as Trader Joe’s was making its seasonal swaps for summer 2022. Turkey Bolognese fans took to social media to express their disappointment over the loss. Let’s take a closer look at this adored product and why people will miss it so much.
What Made Turkey Bolognese So Special
Here’s what made this sauce stand out
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Flavorful ground turkey – Savory, lean turkey gave it a lighter taste than beef Bolognese.
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Thick, meaty texture – Chunky shredded turkey in a thick, clingy tomato sauce.
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Convenience – An easy weeknight pasta sauce from the freezer aisle.
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Versatility – Worked with pasta, zoodles, over rice, in lasagna, etc.
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Affordability – A high-quality sauce at Trader Joe’s prices
For time-strapped home cooks, Turkey Bolognese was a quick route to a hearty, protein-packed pasta meal without a huge grocery bill.
Why Customers Loved Trader Joe’s Turkey Bolognese
Fans praised this sauce for several reasons:
- Delicious flavor comparable to homemade
- Healthier alternative to beef and pork ragù
- Helped use up leftover turkey after holidays
- Easy way to get veggies in through hidden zucchini
- Perfectly seasoned – no extra salt needed
- Thick, clingy texture coated pasta nicely
- Affordable for a pre-made pasta sauce
- Convenient frozen option for busy families
For pasta-loving customers, it became a pantry staple they could rely on for easy dinners.
The Devastating Loss of Turkey Bolognese
The news of Turkey Bolognese getting discontinued was met with great sadness from shoppers:
- “This was my favorite TJ’s pasta sauce!”
- “Our household is so bummed about this.”
- “First the jalapeño sauce now this???”
- “This sauce was elite.”
- “My favorite thing to buy at TJ’s. I’m heartbroken.”
Many fans were blindsided by the abrupt removal of this beloved item. They stocked up on the last remaining jars, hoping it might return someday.
Possible Reasons for Discontinuation
While Trader Joe’s didn’t give a reason, some potential factors could be:
- Supply chain issues interrupting ingredients
- Low sales and turnover for the product
- Seasonality and changing product mix
- Food safety concerns from manufacturers
Whatever the cause, TJ’s shoppers are crushed to lose this affordable pasta sauce staple.
How to Cope With This Loss
Here are some ideas for coping without Turkey Bolognese:
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Check international or specialty markets for similar turkey ragu sauces.
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Make your own using ground turkey, tomatoes, red wine, and Italian seasoning.
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Substitute beef or pork ragu for that rich Bolognese flavor.
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Use Trader Joe’s Soy Chorizo as a meat substitute.
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Mix ricotta or goat cheese into marinara for creaminess.
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Sauté mushrooms, onions, and spinach for extra flavor.
With some creativity and experimenting, you may find a new favorite sauce replacement. But Turkey Bolognese can never fully be duplicated.
A Eulogy to This Sauce
In the end, we must bid a fond farewell to Trader Joe’s Just the Sauce: Turkey Bolognese. Its tasty blend of shredded turkey, zucchini, and Italian spices brought joy to weeknight dinners. This convenient frozen find will be missed by all who discovered its afforable, meaty goodness. We pour one out for you, TJ’s Turkey Bolognese.
Have you struggled to cope with this devastating product loss? Which discontinued Trader Joe’s items do you wish would make a comeback? Let’s mourn the demise of Turkey Bolognese together, fellow TJ’s shoppers.
Goodbye (for now, at least) to pickle-flavored popcorn and turkey bolognese
Every season, Trader Joe’s adds new foods to its shelves, such as baked goods, frozen treats, snacks that you can pack, and meals that are already made. There are also seasonal treats that are only available for a short time but are still loved by many.
Unfortunately, constant variety also means frequent product discontinuations. Some items are taken off the shelves because they don’t sell well, and others are taken off because they have problems with the product. To keep you from getting sad on your next trip to TJs, Salon Food has put together a list of 6 items that will no longer be sold this summer, based on posts from loyal customers on social media.
This list adds to Salon Foods growing library of supermarket guides. If going back to school is on your mind, check out these six easy things to pack for lunch.
1. Chili & Lime Flavored Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips
Despite being a fan-favorite in this years TJs Customer Choice Awards, the retailers rendition of Takis is being discontinued. The news first made rounds on Reddit, much to the disappointment of countless fans.
“Nooooooooooo I will cry,” wrote user u/kelseyxcx. “I asked a store associate and they said no and that they had them earlier that day but every store I go to its not there I even checked today.” Another user simply commented, “This is the worst news ever,” while a separate customer praised the tasted of these rolled snacks, saying, they are “better than Takis!”
According to some Trader Joe’s employees, the chips may be sold at some stores because the places where products are taken off the market vary by region.
“As a TJs crew member, I can tell you discontinued doesnt necessarily mean what it used to mean,” user u/radarluv explained. “Nowadays we find that a supplier that cant fulfill TJs order needs causes a product to go [discontinued] until a new provider can be found. Finding a new supplier, writing up new contracts, sourcing the materials and getting them to market can take a long long time. Sucks for all of us.”
2. Dark Russet Potato Chips
These crunchy, kettle-cooked chips are another fan-favorite item that has been removed from store shelves. The announcement was made by Trader Joes to be discontinued, an Instagram blogger who routinely highlights discontinued TJs items.
“Why?! I am crushed that @traderjoes would discontinue something that was so right!” wrote one user in the comments section. In the same vein, another user complained about the news, saying, “Im frustrated these have become a staple for me.”
3. Vegan Beet Hummus Rainbow Wrap
After almost four years in the market, TJs vegan wrap has left store shelves. Although the retailer hasnt confirmed the discontinuation, user u/babyyodaonline on Reddit shared the news this week.
“One of my favorite TJs product got discontinued!!! The vegan beet hummus rainbow wrap!” they wrote. “Im DEVASTATED. I went in today to grab one for my work lunch later this week and they were gone! I asked and apparently its discontinued.”
Another disappointed user, u/meowsqueak_, wrote, “Seriously! Its my primary source for buying healthyish prepared lunch options for my partner, and the past few times Ive been shopping Ive came back with almost nothing in the easy workday lunch dept. Where are the wraps, salad kits, anything?”
4. Organic Chia Bar
Loaded with almonds, cranberries and pumpkin seeds, these tasty energy bars are another product that has been discontinued. These bars are hailed as a life-saver and breakfast staple amongst many of the grocerys consumers.
“These and the berry granola balls were my favourite,” commented one mourning user on Instagram. Another user wrote a dramatic “Noooooooooo!” before stating that the bars “saved” them so many times.
5. Popcorn in a Pickle
This dill pickle-flavored snack was only sold during certain times of the year, but it was taken off the shelves for good in early June and won’t be coming back any time soon.
Fans of TJs popcorn in a pickle can try recreating them at home by sprinkling TJs new pickle seasoning on fresh popcorn. Or, per the Instagram page Trader Joes to be Discontinued, a similar tasting product can be picked up right now from Aldi.
6. “Just Sauce” Turkey Bolognese
This ragù sauce with ground turkey and tomatoes is great on pasta or bread (to make a Sloppy Joe). But sadly, it has also been discontinued and will no longer be available for purchase.
“My store in Reno, NV hasnt had it in a very long time,” wrote one user on Instagram. “They looked in the computer and told me about a month ago that it was discontinued.” Another user bashed the news as false, alleging that the sauce was still on the shelves of their local TJs. The majority of commenters, however, confirmed with their local crew members that the product is no longer available.
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Joy Saha is a staff writer at Salon. She writes about food news and trends and their intersection with culture. She holds a BA in journalism from the University of Maryland, College Park.
Not twirling my spaghetti in front of my Italian husband #shorts
FAQ
Does Trader Joe’s still sell turkey bolognese?
Does Bolognese have stock in it?
Does Trader Joe’s have Turkey Bolognese?
Then, one day while roaming the frozen food aisle at Trader Joe’s, something miraculous happened: I spotted a box which read “Just the Sauce: Turkey Bolognese.” I was understandably skeptical. After all, how could a frozen pasta sauce possibly compare to the real thing?
What happened to Turkey Bolognese?
“Just Sauce” Turkey Bolognese This tomato-based ragù sauce made with ground turkey is great on pasta or on bread (to make a Sloppy Joe). But sadly, it has also been discontinued and will no longer be available for purchase. “My store in Reno, NV hasn’t had it in a very long time,” wrote one user on Instagram.
Why was Turkey Bolognese discontinued?
It’s unclear what led to the product being discontinued, especially because so many shoppers routinely bought boxes of the bolognese for years. In April, Reddit user u/mrs_traderjoes posted a review, rating the Turkey Bolognese a ten out of ten: “This is a new staple in my life.
Did Trader Joe’s stop selling russet potato chips?
Dark Russet Potato Chips These crunchy, kettle-cooked chips are another fan-favorite item that has been removed from store shelves. The announcement was made by Trader Joe’s to be discontinued, an Instagram blogger who routinely highlights discontinued TJ’s items.
What happened to Trader Joe’s frozen pizza?
Out of all Trader Joe’s frozen pizzas, this was the favorite of many. But after months of speculation about spotty supply, @traderjoestobediscontinued, an Instagram fan account that tips off shoppers on the latest product announcements, confirmed the discontinuation in January. “Booo! This was the best pizza they have ever sold. How disappointing.
Does Trader Joe’s have seasonal food?
At the turn of each season, Trader Joe’s updates its inventory with new food items, from baked goods and frozen treats to packable snacks and ready-to-eat meals. There are also the occasional seasonal goodies, which are available for a limited time only but still beloved by many.