FSMA Final Rule: Requirement for additional traceability records
Find out more about what steps companies should be taking to ensure they’re compliant by 2026.
Trend and Analysis - Food and Beverage Recalls
Fruits and vegetables recalled for Listeria monocytogenes were the top category for recalls January through November of 2022. Other reasons for fruit and vegetables recalls were for Salmonella, undeclared sulfites and other regulatory violations. This was closely followed by nuts and snack foods. Two other food category for recalls that top the list are prepared foods and confectionary. For the months of January through November the four top categories for recalls were prepared foods, seafood and fish, bakery and dairy.
In January through November 2022 bakery products were recalled due to undeclared allergens, potential for microbial contamination and foreign material while seafood and fish were recalled for Listeria monocytogenes, undeclared allergens and intrinsic foreign material.
Recent notable recalls
In November, over 93,000 pounds of raw ground beef products shipped to retail locations in Texas were recalled due to possible foreign material contamination specifically reflective mirror-like material. The problem was discovered through consumer complaints to the producing firm. No adverse health effects were reported due to consumption of these products.
- The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported 212 food and beverage recalls through November of this year. The US Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) reported 42 recalls through November of 2022.
- Products contaminated with pathogens, primarily Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes, and product misbranded due to undeclared allergens were the top reasons for food and beverage recalls through November of 2022 and accounted for about 77% of all food and beverage recalls.
- The other 23% of food and beverage recalls were due to the presence of foreign materials found in products and for regulatory violations such as lack of proper inspection for USDA regulated products.
- The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the US Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) carried out a total of 254 food and beverage recalls from January through November of 2022. This follows closely with the same period in 2021, when 266 food and beverage recalls occurred.
In October, vegan drumsticks were recalled for undeclared egg protein. Products affected have expiration dates from September of 2023 through January of 2024. Products were distributed to California, Utah and Virginia. One case of an allergic reaction was reported. The problem was caused by manufacturer’s error. The FDA suspended production of the product until the company is certain the problem has been corrected.
In September, various vegetable products were recalled for the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalling firm was notified by their testing lab that one sample tested positive for this pathogen. Products were sold primarily to Kroger stores in their produce or deli sections in Alabama, South Carolina and Georgia. The company is not aware of any illnesses linked to these products.
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