Recall Readiness: Lessons Learned and a Look Ahead

FoodLogiQ’s E-Book,“Recall Readiness: Lessons Learned & a Look Ahead,” details some of the major food recall events and foodborne illness outbreaks of 2020, as well as ways to establish recall modernization within your own organization.

Recalls are bound to happen in the food industry. While no organization wants to be at the center of a major outbreak or Class I recall, all organizations throughout the food supply chain must be prepared for this reality. In 2020, we witnessed several high-profile recalls with nationwide impact. From seafood, to produce, to onions and leafy greens, as well as hand sanitizers, which are being sold by many food retailers and used widely in essential businesses for health and safety practices. These major recalls come amid additional stresses brought on by challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Data from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) shows over 500 recalls, withdrawals and food safety alerts during 2020. Over the course of the year, the FDA published these food and beverage withdrawals and recalls from press releases and other public notices, in a list not inclusive of all industry recalls. According to the most recent annual report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Outbreak and Reporting System (NORS), there were 839 outbreaks, 14,481 illnesses, 827 hospitalizations, and 20 deaths in 2017 in the United States alone.

Consumers count on regulatory bodies and food companies to keep the food that enters their house safe and fit for consumption. But, when there’s a safety issue in the news or on Twitter every other day, consumers have good reason to worry. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 48 million people get sick from foodborne illnesses each year in the United States. As a food company, your reputation is on the line. A recall may give consumers a reason to lose trust in your brand. Are you prepared?

As the food industry rebuilds in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and non-coronavirus news cycles take more real estate in the public sphere, it's wise to look back at the major food safety events that shaped 2020. Learn how recalls have added compounding stresses to the food industry and what steps you can take to minimize the risk of your food business making the news for a poorly managed recall.

FoodLogiQ’s recent E-Book, “Recall Readiness: Lessons Learned & a Look Ahead,” details some of the major food recalls and outbreaks of 2020, as well as way to establish recall modernization as a central strategy for executing a product removal.