New findings have shed light on the primary reasons behind food recalls in the U.S. A recent study by regulatory compliance firm Traceone examined data from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) over the past four years, highlighting the critical issues that trigger these safety measures.
Traceone’s analysis reveals that the top reasons for food recalls are unintended allergens and contamination by harmful pathogens. Shockingly, allergen issues accounted for nearly 40% of all recalls between 2020 and 2024.
Americans need to be aware of the nine major allergens—peanuts, wheat, milk, tree nuts, soy, egg, crustaceans, fish, and sesame—which must be clearly labeled on food products to prevent allergic reactions.
Following allergen issues, bacterial contamination, including salmonella, E. coli, and listeria, is the second leading cause of recalls, responsible for 21% of the total. Additionally, foreign objects like plastic or metal were a concern, leading to 11.6% of recalls, along with mislabeling as another common issue.
There’s also a major health warning regarding lead contamination, which accounted for 1.7% of food recalls. The CDC has raised alarms about lead found in certain spices and products meant for children, as lead exposure can severely affect a child’s development and health.
Moreover, the number of recalls is on the rise; Traceone reported an increase from 454 in 2020 to 547 in 2023, a boost of over 20%. They anticipate that the total number of recalls in 2024 will remain comparable to this year.