Food and cosmetic recalls have nearly doubled from 2012 to 2024, reaching a record high in 2024, according to FDA data. The rise in recalls can be attributed to increased demand for ready-to-eat foods and prepackaged meals, which often require minimal cooking and are more prone to contamination.
Experts blame globalization of food production, sanitation inspection failures, and consumer convenience for the growing number of incidents. “With greater convenience comes more risk,” said Darin Detwiler, a food safety advocate who lost his son to an E. coli outbreak.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 48 million people in the US get sick from food-borne diseases each year, resulting in 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths. The CDC has linked several recalls to outbreaks, including a Boar’s Head recall of 7 million pounds of meat products, which hospitalized at least 57 people and resulted in 9 deaths.
The issue is gaining attention from lawmakers, who held a Senate health committee hearing on the connection between ultra-processed foods and obesity. As Americans’ diets become increasingly complex, experts warn that the risks associated with food production and consumption will only continue to grow unless urgent action is taken.
Source: https://www.axios.com/2024/12/17/food-recalls-2024-increase