Food and beverage recalls administered by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) occur regularly, although some products warned to pose risks to consumers can stay on recall lists for months—or even years.
Data compiled by Newsweek has found more than 350 food and beverage recalls by the FDA, many of which remain live even as threats dissipate. Products run the gamut and include breakfast items, baby formula, fruits and vegetables, food kits, desserts, snacks, drinks like lemonade, dipping sauces, frozen pizzas, pastas and cooking oils.
Allergies and contamination are common sources of recalls by the FDA, which describes a recall as the method of removing or correcting products and involves “actions taken by a firm to remove a product from the market.” This can be generated by the company, through a request by the FDA or via demand from the agency or other authority.
Of the items evaluated, single-serving store-made penne pasta with asiago sauce made by the company Weis joined gourmet Carolina Gold honey sauce made by Piggie Park Enterprises Inc. as the oldest items on the compiled list—dating back to February 9, 2018, and March 23, 2018, respectively.
The penne was recalled for failing to list a milk allergen on its label, imposing risks to those who may have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk and potentially lead to a serious life-threatening allergic reaction. The honey sauce was recalled and actually dates back to products manufactured between March 11, 2016, through March 11, 2018, due to containing undeclared wheat and soy that also posed serious risks.
Other items that date back to 2021 include the following:
- Buttermilk Pancake & Waffle Mix (Kroger)—Date of recall: March 18, 2022
- Enoki Mushrooms (Yes!)—Date of recall: March 19, 2022
- Two-Bite Brownies (H-E-B Bakery)—Date of recall: April 29, 2022
- Multiple Fresh Salad Products (Fresh Express, Bowl and Basket, Giant Eagle, Marketside and Others)—Date of recall: December 27, 2021
- Cream Puffs (Delizza)—Date of recall: December 29, 2021
- Angel Formula Infant formula (Moor Herbs)—Date of recall: January 7, 2022.
Items like enoki mushrooms stayed live on the FDA website for more than a year, for example, when the outbreak was declared over last year by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Delizza cream puffs are still listed online by the FDA.
Five people in four states (California, Michigan, Nevada and New Jersey) were sickened and reported hospitalization. There was one pregnancy-associated illness and no reported deaths.
Separate recalls regarding meat, poultry and egg products are regulated by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. According to Newsweek’s research, two out of 25 products removed by the FSIS this year resulted in illness through May 31. Last year, there were no serious reactions reported to the FSIS triggered by the 31 products recalled during the same time period.