According to data released by ExpertRECALL, the units of food recalled in the third quarter of 2013 by the FDA more than doubled compared to the previous quarter. Of the foods recalled, 44% were classified as Class I recalls, which have the potential to cause illness or death.
In addition, the Consumer Product Safety Commission reported the highest volume of injuries and incidents caused by recalled products in the past five quarters. The largest cause of product recalls was a fire hazard.
There was a significant increase in the number of international recalls. But the number of recalls is down significantly from the fourth quarter of 2012.
Overall, there were 252 food recalls in the third quarter of 2013. This was a 14% decline over the third quarter of 2012. According to the FDA, one recall affected 2.5 million units, three recalls affected between 500,000 and one million units, and eight recalls affected between 100000 and 500,000 units. Forty companies had more than one recall. One company had 24 recalls, and three others faced more than 10 recalls. Thirty recalls affected consumers nationwide.
Allergens were, again, the largest cause of food recalls. Foods can be recalled for contamination or labeling issues. Foodborne illness accounted for more than 40% of the recalls reported in the third quarter.
