In 2018 Food Recalls Were Higher by 10% from 2013

Meat and poultry recalls increased by 2/3 from 2013 to 2018, while food recalls overall increased by 10 percent, according to the report published by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG). 2018 was a bad year for food safety with two E. coli contaminations in romaine lettuce, a Salmonella outbreak in raw beef. However, 2018's 703 recalls were lower that the peak of 905 in 2016. Over the five-year period (13-18), poultry posted the most recalls with 168, followed by beef (137) and pork (128). In addition to meat, and the recall from outbreaks in romaine, processed food and produce recalls increased just 2 percent. Ritz and Goldfish crackers, Honey Smacks cereal, melon and soy nut butter all had recalls. PIRG called for a number of changes to the U.S. food system, some of which are often championed by food safety advocates. Among them is better testing of irrigation water. The group also seeks more stringent inspection and monitoring of food producers, granting the USDA mandatory recall authority for meat and poultry and penalizing companies who continue to sell after a recall. They also want to improve the systems by which retailers alert customers of recalls and the technologies used to trace contaminated produce and meat through the food supply. @ https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2019/01/17/food-recalls-increasing-romaine-lettuce-beef-pirg-usda-fda-ecoli-salmonella/2595775002/