In recent months, new parents had their worlds shaken by the tragic deaths of two infants due to Cronobacter sakazakii-contaminated powdered infant formula. The worst part about this tragedy is that these deaths were preventable. The product was eventually recalled, but it remained in commerce, and the potentially dangerous infant formula may still be in home pantries. It is unknown how much formula remains in the hands of consumers.
Do we need more evidence that the recall system is failing those for whom it is intended to help? This deadly outbreak exemplifies the failures in the recall system that the nonprofit organization, Stop Foodborne Illness (STOP), is focused on changing. The opportunity for significant transformation arrived with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) release of its New Era of Smarter Food Safety Blueprint in July 2020 containing Core Element 2.6: Recall Modernization.