Do you know how to check your kitchen for potentially dangerous foods?

During the COVID pandemic many people have experienced changes in their bodies, including the rise of undeclared allergens. Do you know undeclared allergens is the leading cause of food and beverage recalls each year.

In 2022 thus far, there has been:

• 59 food and beverage recalls, representing over two-fifths (45.03%) of all food recalls this year.
• 49 recalls due to salmonella and listeria in 2022, representing almost two-fifths (37.4%) of all food product recalls this year. This is the largest share for its type in five years.
• Peanut butter is the leading cause of recall due to salmonella this year.
• Other leading causes of food recalls in 2022 are potential lead contamination and potential presence of foreign materials.

A new study has revealed the worst affected 2022 food and beverage product recalls with undeclared allergens, salmonella and listeria the most common reasons for food product recalls in 2022. 

Agruss Law Firm legal experts conducted research and analyzed the last five years of product recall data from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to establish the worst affected food and beverage product recalls impacting American consumers. 

The analysis revealed that nuts and milk are the most common undeclared allergens this year, responsible for 12 product recalls each in the United States year to date.

Sweets such as ice cream, baked goods, and desserts accounted for over one quarter (25%+) of all product recalls due to undeclared allergens.

Out of 1,286 food and beverage recalls over the past five years, the most common recall is due to undeclared milk allergens, responsible for 185, or over one in ten (14.38%) cases.

The following products have been recalled in June and July 2022 due to undeclared allergens (most recent to least):

• 12th July – Tovala Gochujang-Glazed Salmon and Pork Bowls
• 5th July – Favorite Day Lavender Shortbread Cookies
• 3rd July – Natreve Vegan Protein Powder French Vanilla Wafer Sundae Flavour
• 1st July – Panera at Home Southwest Corn Chowder
• 15th June – Ho King, Giai Phat Fish and Shrimp Balls and Cakes
• 9th June – Gourmondo Co. Asparagus and Feta Sandwiches
• 6th June – Wilton Rainbow Chip Crunch Sprinkles and Rainbow Sprinkles Mix
• 2nd June – Leonard Novelty Bakery Carrot Cake Squares

6 in 10 ( 60%) product recalls due to undeclared nuts were desserts, ice cream and candy. 

Salmonella is the second most common reason for food product recall in 2022, with 28 recalls due to confirmed or potential contaminations, representing over one-fifth (21.37%) of all food product recalls this year. 17 salmonella cases have been reported in May 2022 alone. 

In 2021, salmonella and listeria-related cases represented 33.33% (74 of 222) food and beverage product recalls, which has risen to 37.4% (49 out of 131) in 2022. 

Peanut butter is the leading cause of recall due to salmonella in 2022. This comes after the recent recall of peanut butter due to potential risk of salmonella, affecting a wide number of brands that use peanut butter in their products. Peanut butter, or items containing it, have been recalled the most this year due to risk of salmonella, accounting for 2 in 5 cases (40%) of cases.

Vegetable products have the highest number of salmonella cases over the past five years, however there has only been one recall for vegetable products due to salmonella in 2022. 

In addition, vegetable products have been the most recalled food type, mostly due to potential or confirmed presence of salmonella and/or listeria.

Concerned shoppers should check their kitchen for the following products that were recalled in June due to confirmed or potential presence of salmonella:

• 21st June – Deskins Candies, Peanut Butter No Bake, Chocolate No Bake, and Peanut Butter Pinwheel
• 8th June – Prairie City Bakery – Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Ooey Gooey Butter Cake
• 7th June – Fresh Garden Highway – Protein Power Snack
• 6th June – Taharka Brothers – Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream

In 2022, potential salmonella or listeria cases have been reported in baby formula, vegetables, sandwiches, fruit, chocolate and cheese.

Listeria was the third most common reason for food and beverage recall, confirmed in 17 cases, with four potential cases this year.

The majority of reported cases of listeria have been found in fruit and vegetables. This year enoki mushrooms were responsible for 1 in 2 (50%) of all recalls due to listeria. 

In June, Listeria was found in the following items (list in order from most recent to least):

• 30th June – Little Bear Whole Vidalia onions
• 3rd June – Irvington Seafood Crabmeat: Jumbo, Lump, Finger, and Claw meat
• 1st June – Paris Brothers, Cottonwood River, D’amir, more: 
  • Cottonwood River Cheddar
  • D’amir Brie Double Crème French Brie
  • Milton Prairie Breeze White Cheddar Style
  • Milton Tomato Garlic Cheddar
  • Paris Brothers Mild Cheddar
  • Paris Brothers Colby Jack
  • Paris Brothers Pepper Jack
  • Cervasi Pecorino Romano

Additionally, potential lead contamination, was found in seven food products this year, with another recall due to potentially elevated levels of lead. All the recalls were from fruit products, which happened in February, the same month. 

Lead contamination can occur in the growing and manufacturing process. It cannot be removed once it is onto plants.

Recalls due to the possible presence of foreign material in food happened eight times thus far in 2022. This mostly affected candy, baked goods, and desserts but also peanut butter and sandwiches.

1/2 (50%) of these recalls happened due to the possible presence of metal fragments.

The following items were recalled due to the possible presence of foreign material in July 2022:

• 12th July – Enjoy Life – Baked snacks – check applicable dates here

Whole Foods Market had the highest number of product recalls out of any company mentioned in the last five years, with 37 total food product recalls, over 3/4 (75%+) of which happened due to undeclared allergens.

Commenting on the findings, a spokesperson from Agruss Law Firm said: “Even with quality assurance checks implemented at each stage of food production, consumers can still face harmful effects once they’ve taken their groceries home. 

“When companies issue a recall, it’s important for consumers to check their kitchen for those products, in case they have purchased something potentially, inadvertently dangerous.

“If you have been injured by a recalled product, it is possible that you are entitled to compensation. An experienced product liability lawyer can help you to determine whether you have a claim.”

If you need a lawyer, visit www.agrusslawfirm.com .