Food and Wine reported that although the total number of food recalls did not increase in 2024 compared to 2023, the number of illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths did increase. The total recalls due to Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, and E. coli did increase in 2024. The FDA witnessed an 8% rise in food and beverage recalls versus 2023. The USDA dropped 38% to 55 incidents in 2024. Nearly 1,400 people became sick in 2024 because of food they ate that was ultimately recalled. More concerning is the number of hospitalizations and deaths caused by recalled items, which more than doubled, with 487 hospitalizations and 19 deaths last year, suggesting serious public health lapses. 2024 was a year with major gaps in inspection frameworks and manufacturing discipline, shown by high-profile incidents like the Listeria outbreak at a Boar’s Head plant in Virginia. The was the deadliest Listeria outbreak in over a decade. Undeclared allergens were the largest cause of food recalls in 2024, followed by Listeria, Salmonella, then excessive lead content in food, the presence of foreign materials, and E. coli. @ https://www.foodandwine.com/foodborne-illness-increasing-11712085
