Undeclared allergens and microbial contamination were responsible for the majority of recalls in Australia this past year.
Undeclared allergens caused 32 of the 87 recalls in 2019 while 30 were due to microbial contamination. In 2018, 46 recalls were because of allergens and 20 due to microbial contamination out of 100.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) collects data on Australian food recalls so trends can be identified as well as common problems in the industry.
Recalls are classified by FSANZ under microbial contamination, labelling, foreign matter, chemical/other contaminants, undeclared allergen, biotoxin and other.
Undeclared allergen and microbial recalls up
Between January 2010 and December 2019, FSANZ coordinated 707 recalls. The average per year for the last 10 years is 71.
The type mostly associated with a recall is mixed and/or processed food but this is likely due to the range in this category, including most long-life packaged food and manufactured items with multiple ingredients. Breads and bakery products, including biscuits, cakes and pastries, is the second largest type associated with recalls.
FoodWorld 