Hodo Foods, the Oakland tofu company whose products are found everywhere from Bay Area Michelin-starred restaurants to Whole Foods, is voluntarily recalling a cooked tofu product sold in 29 states, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The recall of more than 10,000 cases of its Chili Crisp Lightly Fried Tofu, which began on Aug. 7, is due to potential ink contamination.
“Printing ink from the product packaging may have migrated into the product,” Hodo said in a statement published Aug. 31. “The recalled product was distributed to wholesale distributors, retail locations, and directly to consumers in the following states from January 16, 2026 to July 16, 2026.” SFGATE could not reach Hodo, Inc. for further comment in time for publication.
California is one of the 29 states included in the recall, which only affects specific lot numbers and use-by dates. No illnesses or injuries have been reported, according to the company’s statement. Hodo is still investigating the cause of the ink contamination, and “is evaluating whether chili oil and heat may have contributed to potential migration from the printed film packaging into the product,” it said.
Hodo’s tofu, yuba and other soy products are beloved by many of the Bay Area’s most esteemed chefs, and can be found on the menus of Michelin-starred restaurants like SingleThread in Healdsburg and Mister Jiu’s and the Progress in San Francisco, according to the San Francisco Chronicle (the Chronicle and SFGATE are both owned by Hearst but have separate newsrooms). Founder Minh Tsai started the company in 2004, using organic soybeans and craft production methods to create artisan tofu.
Customers who have any recalled product should not consume it and may return it to where they purchased it for a full refund or request a voucher or coupon on the Hodo Foods website.
“Food safety and product quality are top priorities for Hodo,” Hodo’s statement said.