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By Anna Skinner
Associate News Editor
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There have been fewer instances of food recalls so far this year than during the same time frame last year, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) data shows.
Newsweek reached out to the FDA via email for comment.
Why It Matters
Consuming recalled food products can result in serious health issues. Recalls can be issued for myriad reasons, including bacteria contamination and undeclared allergens.
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So far this year, recalled food items have included cucumbers, eggs, mushrooms and hundreds of other products.
What To Know
Although recalls are concerning, data from the FDA shows that food recalls are declining.
An FDA spokesperson told Newsweek that 2025 data shows there were 51 food recalls in January and 26 in February. In January 2024, there were 45, while February of last year saw 39. The agency added that the U.S. food supply is among the safest in the world.
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In addition to food recalls declining overall, those categorized as a Class 1 recall are also declining. So far this year, there have been 90 Class 1 food recalls. For the same period in 2024, there were 121 Class 1 recalls.
A Class 1 recall is "a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death," according to the FDA's website.
Some reasons a food recall might be issued is due to undeclared allergens or the presence of bacteria.
Food sensitivities and allergies affect millions of Americans each year. According to the FDA, the nine major food allergens in the United States are milk, eggs, fish, wheat, soybeans, Crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts and sesame.
The FDA estimates that nearly 48 million cases of foodborne illnesses occur in the U.S. each year. These illnesses can result from exposure to bacteria like salmonella or listeria.
Food recalls issued in February include some tahini sesame paste, alfalfa sprouts, canned tuna, bamboo shoots, beef tallow and other products. Typically, food recalls are issued voluntarily by the manufacturer.
Other recalled items listed by the FDA include cosmetics, drugs, biologics, tobacco, veterinary items and medical devices.
What People Are Saying
FDA in a webpage about recalls: "Food producers recall their products from the marketplace when the products are mislabeled or when the food may present a health hazard to consumers because the food is contaminated or has caused a foodborne illness outbreak."
What Happens Next
Food recalls remain active on the FDA's site until officials are positive the product is no longer available to consumers. In some instances, recalls can remain active for months or longer.
Updated 3/3/25, 6:11 p.m. Eastern time: This article was updated to include comment from the FDA.
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