Stay ahead of food recalls
With the risk of recalls increasing year over year, it's clear we need to do more to protect consumers. Prepare for the unexpected with daily operations tech that automatically considers recall variables. See MoreFood safety first and foremost
With consumer protection taking precedence, food recalls can be voluntary or mandated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Either way, they require rapid responses and a coordinated effort spanning different departments, manufacturers, distributors, and more. How do you move faster when it matters most? By implementing solutions that promote communication and transparency before the word “recall” even comes into play.
Top reasons for recall
While FDA recalls decreased slightly from 506 in 2023 to 495 in 2024, food safety threats worsened. Bacterial contamination surged 58.3% to 133 recalls—the highest in five years—according to Sedgwick’s recall index report.
The biggest culprits behind food recalls in 2024 were:
1. Bacterial contamination: Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli drove a record-breaking spike.
2. Undeclared allergens: The leading cause of recalls, with milk and wheat being the most common culprits.
3.Foreign material contamination: Recalls due to plastic, metal, and other unexpected substances in food.
Source: Sedgwick brand protection
Foodborne illnesses soared in 2024, with hospitalizations and deaths more than doubling, an analysis by the U.S. PIRG Education Fund found. Recalls tied to Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli jumped 41%, highlighting growing dangers for consumers.
– There were 1,392 foodborne illnesses recorded in the U.S. in 2024, an increase from 1,118 seen in 2023.
– Additionally, hospitalizations more than doubled from 230 in 2023 to 487 in 2024.
– So did deaths, increasing from 8 in 2023 to 19 in 2024.
Whatever the issue, be prepared
As you already know, the ideal time to implement new technology is not when faced with a recall. Preemptively upgrading your recall prevention strategy ahead of the time can offer peace of mind while helping your team realize the follow benefits.
Supply chain clarity
Sort fact from fiction quickly to communicate confidently, with authority and assurance.
Control the situation
Access real-time knowledge and insights to manage and correct any potential problems.
A constant state of readiness
Timely alerts can ensure you react appropriately—in time—to prevent recalls and disastrous overreactions.
“TraceGains helps pinpoint and understand the risks or hazards across our supply chain and manufacturing operations. We now have the visibilty and control to share that information so we can mitigate those risks and prevent foodborne illness and recalls moving forward.”
— Brian Perry, Vice President FSQA, TreeHouse Foods
The cost may be higher than you think
When the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) tried to put a number on it, their joint research estimated that recalls, on average, cost food & beverage brands $10 million dollars. And that’s just in direct costs, such as notifying regulatory bodies, retrieving affected products, storing and/or destroying items, etc.
After factoring in sales losses and brand damage, though, more than 50% of companies have self-reported costs in excess of that $10 million average according to a recent Consumer Brands Association survey. As costs continue to climb, recall prevention technology remains well worth the investment.
Pillars of a strong recall risk reduction strategy
Document and data management
With supply chains becoming more complex, it’s more important than ever to ensure that the organization is running on complete and accurate documentation, from supplier docs to specifications.
Lot-level and material compliance
Manually comparing Certificates of Analysis (COAs) to specs it time-consuming and error prone. Automating that process saves time, reduces risk, and lets team focus.
Accurate labeling
Once again, allergen declarations were the top reason for FDA recalls in 2023. But with strong data and document controls, visibility at the facility level and accurate labeling tools, you don’t need to be part of this trend.
The best kind of recall is one that never needs to happen
Instead of searching for solutions that allow you to respond to recalls, choose the only one specifically designed to prevent them in the food & beverage supply chain.
Access real-time supply chain data that allows you to pinpoint item details at every stage, from supplier to manufacturing location and retailer.
Learn how TraceGains has helped hundreds of leading brands reduce risk while increasing throughput and operational efficiency.
See our proactive recall solutions in action.
Keep Exploring
Food Allergen Labeling—Let’s Be Clear
A Day in the Life of Material Compliance
