The toll of a food safety failure extends far beyond the initial problem. Whether it brings costs associated with food waste, production delays, regulatory consequences, or loss of consumer trust, suffice to say a recall is best avoided.
Food safety incidents have seen a rise in recent years. Recalls from Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli rose by 41% from 2023 to 2024, according to a February report from Public Interest Research Group (PIRG). Nearly 1,400 people fell ill from contaminated food in 2024, with 98% of those reported illnesses stemming from 13 outbreaks, according to the PIRG report. Of those reported illnesses, over 500 were hospitalized or died, compared to about 240 hospitalizations or deaths from contaminated food in 2023.
