This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
This Website Uses Cookies
By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Learn More
This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
Subscribe
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • Home
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Digital Edition
    • Archives
  • Exclusives
    • Refrigerated Foods Processor of the Year
    • Frozen Foods Processor of the Year
    • Foodservice Distributor of the Year
    • Sustainable Processor of the year
    • State of the Industry
    • Top 150 Frozen Food Processors
    • Editor's Blog
    • Best New Retail Products
  • Topics
    • Case Studies
    • Energy Management
    • Food Safety
    • New Retail Products
    • Packaging
    • Supply Chain & Logistics
  • News
    • Industry News
    • Technology Showcase
    • People News
    • Supplier News
  • Directories & Guides
    • Cold Storage Warehouse Guide
    • Cold Storage Construction Guide
    • Take a Tour
    • Food Master
  • More
    • eNewsletter
    • Expert Columns
    • Trade Education
    • Partners
    • Polls
    • Directory of Associations
    • Market Research
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • Nominations for RFF Awards
    • R&FF Store
    • Sneak Peeks
  • Events
    • Food Automation & Manufacturing (FA&M) Conference & Expo
    • Calendar of Events
  • Multimedia
    • RandFF Mobile App
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • Interactive Spotlights
  • Contact Us
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • Subscribe
Home » Study reveals increase in meat, poultry recalls
Food SafetyIndustry News

Study reveals increase in meat, poultry recalls

Food recalls overall increased by 10% between 2013-2018.

default-minced-meat-production-feature.jpg
January 17, 2019
KEYWORDS food recalls / Food Safety Modernization Act / food safety testing / food safety training / foodborne illness / U.S. PIRG Education Fund
Reprints
No Comments

From E. coli-infected romaine lettuce to Salmonella-tainted beef, contaminated foods lead to illnesses that sicken as many as one in six Americans annually, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s website. In 2018, this epidemic helped spur major recalls, which caused stores and restaurants to toss millions of pounds of meat and produce. That’s because fundamental flaws in today’s current food safety system have led to a jump in these recalls since 2013, according to “How Safe is Our Food?,” a report released by U.S. PIRG Education Fund, Denver, Colo.

“The food we nourish our bodies with shouldn’t pose a serious health risk. But, systemic failures mean we’re often rolling the dice when we go grocery shopping or eat out,” says Adam Garber, consumer watchdog. “We can prevent serious health risks by using common sense protections from farm to fork.”

Since the passage of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) in 2011, many types of food recalls have increased substantially. While better science and more thorough investigations under FSMA account for some of the increased recalls, U.S. PIRG found serious gaps in the food safety system throughout the same time period.

Key findings from this year’s report include:

  • An 83% increase in meat and poultry recalls can cause serious health problems. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Class 1 recalls “involve a health hazard situation in which there is a reasonable probability that eating the food will cause health problems or death.” This includes recalls of beef for E. coli, poultry for Salmonella and others.
  • Food recalls overall increased by 10% between 2013-2018. From lettuce to meat, the total number of food recalls has increased over the last six years.
  • Archaic laws allow meat producers to sell contaminated products. It is currently legal to sell meat that tests positive for dangerous strains of Salmonella.
  • Bacteria-contaminated water is used on vegetables and produce. A case study helps demonstrate how irrigation water polluted by fecal matter from a nearby cattle feedlot likely contaminated romaine lettuce with E. coli in the spring of 2018.

“These recalls are a warning to everyone that something is rotten in our fields and slaughterhouses. Government agencies need to make sure that the food that reaches people’s mouths won’t make them sick,” says Viveth Karthikeyan, consumer watchdog associate.

Subscribe to Refrigerated and Frozen Foods

Related Articles

Study reveals 62% increase in plant-based product claims

Research shows global food safety issues increasing in poultry, seafood, vegetables

Why food recalls continue to happen despite increasing regulation

Study: Sustainable packaging to gain significant traction in meat & poultry packaging

Related Events

International Workshop on Halal Meat

HACCP Training Course:

GFSI Conference

15th Annual SeaWeb Seafood Summit

You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Subscribe For Free!
  • Print & Digital Edition Subscriptions
  • What’s Hot in Cold eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Popular Stories

Study: Frozen fruits market to experience significant expansion through 2022

KanPak U.S. opens new warehouse in Arkansas City, KS

default-frozen-vegetables-feature.jpg

Cornell University develops tool for controlling foodborne pathogens in food manufacturing facilities

Danone North America expands largest U.S. production facility to make plant-based yogurt alternatives

2019 Best New Retail Product temp banner

Sponsorships Available for 2019 Best New Retail Products Contest

ColdStorageConstructionGuide_360


Refrigerated & Frozen Foods Buyer's Guide How-to video

Events

January 1, 2030

Webinar Sponsorship Information

For webinar sponsorship information, visit www.bnpevents.com/webinars or email webinars@bnpmedia.com.

View All Submit An Event

Poll

How will your company be affected?

President Trump withdrew the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership deal. How will this decision affect the future of your company?
View Results Poll Archive

WarehouseGuide_360

Refrigerated & Frozen Foods Magazine

Refrigerated & Frozen Foods January 2019

2019 January

Check out the January 2019 edition of Refrigerated & Frozen Foods: 2019 Refrigerated Foods Processor of the Year, high-pressure processing, Industry 4.0, hydroponic farming, and much more!
View More Subscribe
  • Resources
    • Food & Beverage Brands
    • Packaging
    • List Rental
    • Exclusives
    • Privacy Policy
    • Survey and Sample
  • Want More
    • Connect

Copyright ©2019. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing