2024 was a big year for food recalls in the US, why?
2024 was a big year for food recalls in the US, why?
This year, it seemed like we heard about one recall after another, especially when it came to the items in your kitchen and foodborne illnesses. So did we see more recalls this year than usual, and what can be done in the new year so that we don’t see as many recalls?
SEATTLE - This year, it seemed like we heard about one recall after another, especially when it came to the items in your kitchen and foodborne illnesses.
So did we see more recalls this year than usual, and what can be done in the new year so that we don’t see as many recalls?
It’s been 32 years since Bill Marler started working as a food safety attorney. He says recalls can actually be a good thing because it gets food off the market—hopefully before people get sick.
"But with 2024, however, not only were there a lot of recalls, but there were a lot of outbreaks, and some significant ones: hundreds of people sick, thousands of people sick, actually, and dozens of people dead from, you know, from Boars Head deli meat, McDonald's hamburgers, Grimway carrots and other products, and Washington State was hit pretty hard."
So what can be done, so this doesn’t happen again next year?
Marler believes more food testing is needed before products go on the market as well as more inspections of plants.
"I think most people would be shocked to know that the FDA, which has responsibility for over 80% of the food supply, you know, may go to a plant, you know, but once every three to four to five years, and there's been talks of cutbacks of that," Marler continued.
As for consumers, he recommends keeping hot things hot and cold things cold.
"Cooking your chicken to 165 degrees internal temperature is important. And same with beef, especially hamburgers, cooking at 260 degrees internal temperature, you know, will save you a trip to the hospital."
While we’ve seen a downturn in E. coli cases linked to hamburgers since the Jack in the Box outbreak 31 years ago, Marler says recently we’ve had multiple outbreaks when it comes to some restaurants undercooking hamburgers.
"People have died this year because of consuming undercooked hamburgers…48 million Americans get sick from a foodborne illness every year. 125,000 hospitalized, and there are nearly 5,000 deaths."
He says convenience is sometimes not worth the risk.
"If you buy a head of lettuce, you're likely way safer taking that head of lettuce home, washing it yourself and chopping it up yourself. Then you are buying a bagged product," Mahler continued.
So as we get ready to throw out 2024 like last week’s produce and stock up on new items in 2025 Marler says America has made progress since he started working in the industry 32 years ago, but that there is a lot more progress to make.
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