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Recalls are changing the way Americans view food
Yahoo • • business
Key Points:
- A GS1 US survey reveals growing American concern over food recalls, with 94% worried about their frequency and confidence in recalls protecting public health dropping from 85% to 80%.
- Recent high-profile outbreaks, including salmonella from jalapeño peppers and cyclospora from iceberg lettuce, have heightened consumer caution, leading 67% to avoid entire food categories after recalls, up from 60% last year.
- Analysis of FDA data shows allergen contamination as the leading cause of recalls (45.2%), followed by bacterial contamination (22.6%) and foreign objects (10.8%), with total recalls rising 21.4% from 2021 to 2025.
- Despite concerns, only 9% of consumers say they would never repurchase a recalled brand, with many influenced by the time since recall, contamination severity, and official recommendations.
- GS1 US emphasizes that improved product tracing could help identify affected items faster and provide clearer safety information to consumers.
