A series of major food safety incidents has increased public concern, but experts say the scale of the recalls is more alarming than the number of them.
While food recalls, like Taylor Farms’ recent Cyclospora contamination in iceberg lettuce, Salmonella in eggs in the UK and botulism in ByHeart’s infant formula, are certainly alarming for the food industry and consumers, the number of recalls is not necessarily increasing, according to Roger Hanckock, CEO of Recall InfoLink, who pointed to data from Sedgwick Recall Index Report, which tracks recalls across industries.
Rather, what has increased is the number of units being recalled.
What’s causing these recalls is nuanced. One possible contributor may be industry consolidation where a small number of large suppliers serve many brands and retailers, Hancock explained.
The recent Cyclospora outbreak linked to Taylor Farms’ iceberg lettuce is one example. The outbreak was traced to lettuce imported from Mexico and distributed to dozens of states through major foodservice chains. Thousands of illnesses ultimately were linked to the outbreak, making it one of the most significant produce recalls to date, Hancock noted. The outbreak illustrates how a single ingredient can spread through an increasingly interconnected food supply chain. Because bigger recalls affect more consumers, more media attention is generated towards it, creating a perception that recalls are more common, Hancock added.
“There’s so much variability in recalls that it’s hard to generalize,” he said.
While some point to supply-chain complexity or traceability shortcomings, Hancock said it’s challenging to identify universal causes across different recall incidents.
Traceability remains a major challenge, especially in global supply chains
Although the FDA’s Food Traceability Rule (FSMA 204) has been written, it has not yet been fully implemented and measured. FDA’s enforcement of the rule, which was originally scheduled to take effect on Jan. 20, 2026, is now delayed until July 20, 2028.
As the industry prepares for FSMA 204’s implementation, the current lack of structure around the rule makes it difficult to identify the industry’s most significant traceability gaps today, Hancock noted.
The challenge is particularly significant for imported foods where products navigate through multiple companies, countries and regulatory jurisdictions before reaching consumers, he added.
Recalls ‘require action’
For brands, one of the biggest lessons from high-profile recalls is preparedness.
“A recall is effectively a supply chain activity, not a company activity,” Hancock said, emphasizing that recalls are ultimately consumer-facing events.
The most important lesson for brands and manufacturers is to communicate clearly, frequently and transparently to supply chain partners and consumers, he advised.
“Confusion really is the biggest barrier to a well-conducted recall,” Hancock emphasized.
Companies should focus on three areas, according to Hancock:
- Recall communication readiness
- Finished product safety, testing and documentation
- Supply chain recall readiness
“First, I should look at my communication. Second, I would try to shore up my finished product specifications and testing and documentation to ensure its wholesomeness and safety and quality. And third, I would look for feedback from my supply chain,” he added.
Preparedness also extends beyond the manufacturer to every point along the supply chain.
“If a company recognizes the need to do a recall, and so they send a recall message out to 100 customers, and 50 of them don’t do anything, it’s a failed recall,” Hancock said.
