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Now also carrots? Why there have been so many food recalls lately

Vaseline November 19, 2024

There has been a recall on organic carrots due to the risk of E.coli, the latest in a series of food recalls that have been on the rise in recent years.

Several brands of organic carrots were recalled after being linked to cases of E.coli across the country. Photo by Getty Images

It seems like every day there’s a new food memory. This time it’s carrots.

Several brands of the vegetable sold in 18 states have been recalled due to possible E.coli contamination, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The 39 cases were reported in 18 states, resulting in 15 hospitalizations and one death.

Food recalls have been on the rise lately, with total numbers increasing 20% between 2020 and 2023, according to Darin Detwiler, a food safety expert and associate professor at Northeastern University. This upward trend has continued into 2024 and includes Class I recalls, which pose the highest level of risk to consumers.

“The increase in food recalls for various products, from processed meats to frozen waffles, has raised questions about whether broader issues within food regulation and supervision are contributing to this trend,” Detwiler said. “Several factors may be contributing to the increase in recalls, and it is likely a combination of circumstances that has caused this increased level of concern.”

Portrait of Darin Detwiler. — Darin Detwiler, associate professor, said food recalls are increasing due to a number of factors. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

One factor at play is a restructuring of the Food and Drug Administration, Detwiler said. The transition aims to create “a more centralized, coherent approach to food safety,” he added, but it could also create temporary gaps.

Moreover, there are a number of external factors at play. Many manufacturers have relaxed their practices during Covid, which is now catching up with them, Detwiler said. Election season can impact how government agencies operate and economic pressures can cause companies to cut costs.

“What we’re seeing is likely a perfect storm of factors: regulatory transitions, pandemic-related inspection gaps, increased detection capabilities and economic pressures,” Detwiler said. “Together, these elements have led to an increase in recalls. While it is unclear whether one specific issue is driving the trend, the combination suggests there are vulnerabilities within the food regulatory system that need to be addressed to restore consumer confidence.”

At the same time, Detwiler said we are seeing an improvement in technology that tests for pathogens, meaning more cases are being detected and earlier, indicating an improvement for food safety.

“Improved detection methods and stricter safety measures… have led to more effective identification of foodborne disease outbreaks and contamination incidents,” he added.

The most recent outbreak came from Grimmway Farms in California. The voluntary recall was announced on Saturday.

Both baby and whole organic carrots were affected and may not only be in stores but also in people’s homes, according to the CDC. They urged people to check their products and throw away or return affected products.

The FDA could do more to prevent these outbreaks, Detwiler added. He said the agency could implement stricter oversight of food supply chains, especially for global products, making it easier to trace items to more quickly identify the source of contamination, expanding resources so smaller producers can meet safety standards , and work with state, federal, and industry patterns to promote or mandate recall readiness.

Many recent recalls have involved prepared foods and fresh produce. Detwiler said prepared foods, including ready-to-eat meals and commercially packaged products, are often recalled due to undeclared allergens, while produce is often recalled due to contamination by bacteria such as salmonella, E.coli and listeria. The same often applies to poultry products.

Detwiler said consumers can protect themselves by regularly checking the FDA and USDA recall lists or signing up for recall alerts. Following proper guidelines when it comes to storing, cooking and cleaning food can also help reduce the risk of contamination, as can checking labels to avoid manufacturers with a history of recalls and purchases from reputable grocers.