Food Recalls - Statistics & Facts
A product recall refers to the request to return a product after the discovery of safety issues or defects that might endanger the consumer as well as put the manufacturer or distributor at risk of legal action. This step is made to maintain the corporate image and limit the company’s liability for corporate negligence. A food recall happens when there is reason to believe that a food product may cause consumers to become sick. The producer or seller usually initiates the recall to remove the product from the market. In some cases, government agencies such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) request food recalls. Aside from the discovery of an organism in a product which may make consumers sick, the discovery of a potential allergen or mislabeling could also be used as grounds for recalling food.
