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Analysis Shows U.S. Food Recalls Increased by 20 Percent Between 2020 and 2023
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A recent analysis of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) data has revealed national food recall trends, including which states have been most affected by recalls in recent years. Covering years 2020–2024, the analysis includes combined data on recall events from USDA’s Realls and Public Health Alerts database and FDA’s Enforcement Reports database.
Data revealed that, between 2020 and 2023, the total number of food recalls issued by USDA and FDA grew from 454 to 547—an increase of more than 20 percent. This growth took place across all classes of recall, but especially Class I recalls.
Based on the first half of 2024, the number of total recalls is projected to match 2023’s total, roughly.
The leading causes of food recalls were found to be allergen contamination, responsible for nearly 40 percent of all cases, followed by bacterial contamination (21.1 percent) and foreign object contamination (11.6 percent).
The least common cause of recalls was lead contamination recalls, accounting for 1.7 percent of the total. Notably, in late 2023, several brands of applesauce pouches contaminated with lead-adulterated cinnamon were recalled after hundreds of children nationwide contracted lead poisoning.
Unsurprisingly, as the nation’s largest producer of food, California was found to be responsible for the largest share of all recalls. Over 16 percent of recalls originate from California products, more than double the share of the next-closest state.
California customers are also most frequently affected by recalls. Nearly 40 percent of all recalls nationally impact residents in California, with residents in other large states like New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Texas following close behind.
Read the full report detailing Trace One’s analysis here.
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