Evaluation of Food Recalls and Withdrawals Trends Between 2014 and 2018 and Risk Management Tools to Reduce the Financial Impact of a Recall

Food products are regulated by both the USDA and the FDA. Food recalls are voluntary and can be classified as class I, class II, or class III, depending on the risk to the public. In this project, food recall and withdrawal trends were evaluated between 2014 and 2018. During this timeframe, approximately 1,700 food recalls occurred in the United States. The majority of food recalls were caused by undeclared allergens and pathogen contamination. Risk management and loss control tools are used to prevent recalls or minimize the effects of recalls. Recall insurance is a risk management tool that minimizes a company’s financial burden due to a recall event. Recall insurance is widely available but does not cover all of the costs associated with a recall. Risk management tools on-farm or in processing facilities and recall insurance should be used in conjunction with each other to provide the best protection.