Trader Joe’s Speaks Out After Fan-Favorite Holiday Item Is Pulled from Shelves

After Trader Joe’s shoppers speculated that a holiday staple item may not be returning to shelves this year, the grocery chain confirmed its absence.

In a post on the Trader Joe’s subreddit, one user claimed that Candy Cane Joe-Joe’s — a fan-favorite seasonal item which the grocery chain describes as one of its “most popular holiday items” — will not be returning as planned this winter, due to a quality issue.

In a statement to PEOPLE on Tuesday, Dec. 2 a Trader Joe’s spokesperson confirmed the rumor, stating that this year’s batch “didn’t meet our standards, so we made the decision to remove them from our shelves.”

On Nov. 26, a Reddit user claimed that a Trader Joe’s employee informed them that the popular peppermint sandwich cookies — made of chocolate cookies and vanilla cream containing candy cane pieces — will not be restocked this season due to a quality issue, which they claimed was “too much peppermint.”

“I appreciate the quality control – but man, I look forward to these every year,” wrote the disappointed shopper. “I’ll have to find deep inner strength to thrive through this holiday season.”

In response, fellow shoppers shared mixed reports about whether the item has been spotted at their local Trader Joe’s store.

Some reported spotting the gluten-free or chocolate-covered version of the product, while others claimed to spot the original cookies in their local store. Others claimed to have not only spotted the seasonal product, but purchased it already.

In a statement, a spokesperson Trader Joe’s confirmed that the product did hit shelves this year, at least at some locations, but was later removed from stores.

“Trader Joe’s searches the world for products we think our customers will love,” the spokesperson said. “Every product undergoes a rigorous tasting panel process, in which every aspect of quality, taste, and price is thoroughly evaluated before the product can earn a spot on our shelves. Even after products arrive in our stores, we continue to taste them regularly to ensure they meet those same standards.”

“This year, the Candy Cane Joe Joe’s simply didn’t meet our standards, so we made the decision to remove them from our shelves,” the spokesperson continued. “Our holiday season cookie selection is vast and includes a number of truly delicious cookies; we hope our customers will find a new favorite or two from among this selection.”

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News of the fan-favorite item’s absence will likely leave some shoppers sad, as several have already expressed their desire for the sandwich cookies’ return on Reddit and other platforms.

On a Dec. 1 Instagram post the chain shared about its seasonal items, one user commented, “Where are the regular peppermint jojos?”

Others claimed to have purchased the snack before it was pulled from shelves, which they said tasted different.

“It’s so sad that the Dark Chocolate Peppermint Joe Joes taste different this year,” one shopper wrote before asking if they will be “back to normal” next winter.

On the same post, another user wrote that they “wasted” $50 on the product. “I live 2 hrs from Trader Joe’s so I bought 10 boxes,” wrote the same user. “They taste like toothpaste and are not edible. So disappointed in wasting that much money for nothing.”

The official Trader Joe’s Candy Cane Joe-Joe’s item page currently states that the cookies “are back for the season,” though as of Tuesday, Dec. 2, they are also listed “not available.”

Gluten Free Candy Cane Joe-Joe’s and Dark Chocolate Covered Peppermint Cremes, meanwhile, are listed as available.