Food recalls surge
- Global food recalls rising - costing billions and impacting consumer trust
- Prepared foods, confectionery, dairy and snacks top recall charts
- Causes include complex supply chains and labelling errors
- Recalls drive food waste and damage brand reputation
Food and beverage recalls are rising globally. Canada and the US saw incidents hit a record high of 300 in 2024, costing the industry an estimated $1.92bn in direct expenses (FDA). Alerts across the EU rose by 12% (RASFF) and the UK experienced an increase of 10% (FSA).
Figures show that prepared foods, such as pasta and noodles, accounted for the highest number of recalls worldwide, with confectionery coming in second.
Other commonly recalled items include fruit juices and plant-based milks, crisps and cereal bars, and fresh or packaged salads.
Added to that, the Global Food Recall Index study shows a steep increase in the number of dairy recalls, with almost 400 products withdrawn from the global market in the first quarter of 2025 alone.
Why are food recalls rising?
There are myriad reasons for the rise in food and beverage recalls, but one common thread is the fact that most, if not all, could have been avoided.
“The rise in recalls can largely be attributed to increasingly complex supply chains, in addition to larger-scale production recalls,” says Phil Brown, UK sales director of food tech manufacturer Fortress Technology.
However, another reason for the increase, is the fact that the systems which monitors supply chains is improving.
“The industry overall has got much better and faster at initiating recalls,” says Fortress Technology’s Brown.
But it’s not just about issues with the products themselves. Labelling errors were responsible for more than 45% of all US cases and 25% of UK cases in 2024.
This means it’s not just a consumer safety and financial profit problem, it’s a food waste issue too.
“For years the issue of food waste has been recognised and quantified, however, food safety issues often go unrecognised as a source of food waste,” says Mykayla Latronica, a researcher at Research Gate.
Is industry doing enough to prevent recalls?
While food and beverage recalls might be costly and wasteful, they are also a clear sign that the industry is prioritising consumer safety.
Having said that, recent years have seen a decline in investment in new technologies, such as system automation. This has resulted in fragmented technologies and potential inconsistencies in food safety approaches.
“The interoperability of systems is emerging as a strong benefit for food processors,” says Fortress Technology’s Brown. “Having a unified approach to inspection equipment reduces administrative overheads and supports seamless integration with plant operations, enterprise resource planning systems and compliance tracking tools.”
What more can be done to prevent recalls?
Having a cohesive approach to food safety is fundamental to improving food safety and reducing the number of recalls.
“A lot of manufacturers are working with multiple legacy systems, disjointed processes and have international teams that need to comply to their local food safety standards,” says Fortress Technology’s Brown. “Processors that work with a single inspection technology platform generally have a much more cohesive global food safety plan.”
This approach would also help to support scalability, user training, data reporting and operational resilience.
Fortress Technology’s Brown recommends a phased approach to implementation, rather than going all in with a new technology, as it might not be compatible with all existing systems.
“A gradual digitalisation strategy could start with cross-platform communication software for digital data collection and analysis, cost-effective automation tools and standardising production processes, before expanding to more advanced technologies for a faster return on investment,” says Brown.
Consumer trust at risk
Regardless of how well a brand handles the recall of a food or beverage product, customer trust will be shaken.
Data from YouGov shows that 31% of consumers report a moderate loss of trust following a product recall and 16% say it has a strong impact on their trust. Meanwhile just 22% say a recall has no impact on their opinion at all.
That’s not to say that how a brand communicates a recall isn’t important. It’s incredibly important, and if done badly could exacerbate the problem.
“Speed, openness, taking responsibility and transparency are critical factors for sustaining consumer confidence,” says Fortress Technology’s Brown.
Though the severity of the recall is also an influencing factor.
“If there is a failure in quality control, the impact can range from a moderate fall in trust, to complete abandonment of a brand,” says Fortress Technology’s Brown. “Some recalls attract more attention than others. Particularly those relating to hygiene measures and contaminants.”
What’s next for the food industry?
As food recalls continue to climb, the industry faces a critical crossroads. While improved detection and traceability are helping catch issues faster, the root causes - complex supply chains, outdated systems, and inconsistent safety standards - still need urgent attention.
To protect consumers, reduce waste, and rebuild trust, food businesses must invest in smarter, more unified safety strategies. The cost of inaction is simply too high.
