Processed foods are no longer safer than fresh foods, according to the study.
Recalls in the second quarter 2019 remained flat across industries, but serious and deadly incidents were on the rise, an indication of lagging activity by regulatory agencies, according to the second quarter 2019 Recall Index released by Stericycle Expert Solutions, Indianapolis, Ind.
"The numbers in this index are just one data point in the product safety story. Over the last 6 months, regulators have been the target of consumer advocates, victims and even Congress," says Chris Harvey, director of recall solutions. "Perhaps the most obvious has been the criticism lodged at the Consumer Product Safety Commission for its handling of safety-related issues. Then there are the cries for the Food and Drug Administration to act quicker on CBD and cannabis while behind-the-scenes food safety inspections continue to lag."