Food recalls are a recurring issue in the United States, with more than 100 reported annually. This year, during the Food Safety Summit, public health and industry experts gathered for a panel discussion to break down the reasons for these events.
Highlights
- A panel of experts gathered at the Food Safety Summit to understand the underlying issues that result in more than a hundred food recalls every year in America.
- Issues with the system, reasons for the delay, and other such topics were discussed during the expert summit.
- Gaps in communication prevent many Americans from learning about food recalls.
Discussion Over the Rising Concerns of America’s Food Recall System
During the 2025 Food Safety Summit, food safety and industry experts were invited for a panel discussion on the multiple food recalls that are conducted each year. As the number of food recalls increases every year, the seriousness of the matter needs to be addressed. FDA leaders and other experts analyzed flaws in the system as well as the reach of these food recalls.
Reasons for the Delays
Food recall isn’t just about informing the public about faulty products but also getting the said product off the shelves and discarded from their homes. However, the process is neither easy nor does it run smoothly. Recall information often fails to reach consumers in a timely manner, leaving most of them in the dark.
During the discussion, Dr. William Hallman, a behavioral scientist and professor at Rutgers University, stated during the summit that “Only 13% of Americans have ever visited a government website for food recall information. And just 3% are subscribed to emails or text alerts.”
He further states that even among these, many consumers do not believe the notice to be true and continue to use the product.
Where the System Fails
Hallman identified a key flaw in the recall process during this summit was that most of these recall notices weren’t designed to be useful. Identifying the products to be recalled is a challenge in itself because of the many codes that go behind them.
Another flaw noted was that these notices are typically written only in English. This stops the information from reaching immigrant and food-insecure communities.
Panelist Amy Philpott, a crisis communications expert and founder of Philpott PR Solutions, brought attention to another significant gap—the first notice and how it is presented. The first notice is often brought in the form of a legal document, which doesn’t really say what people need to hear. Moreover, companies often avoid social media for fear of backlash, which only makes matters more complicated.
Improvements That Can Bring a Positive Change
Dr. Donald Prater, principal deputy director for Human Foods at the FDA, acknowledged these issues and the need for improvement in the system, especially when tools to solve these issues are easily available.
Highlighting the importance of dealing with delays, confusing language, legal hedging, and poor visibility, the panel discussion successfully finds areas that need improvement. Addressing these issues is essential to improving recall effectiveness.
Going Beyond Comfort and Convenience
The experts’ summit brought in a great deal of insight regarding the issue. However, it is also important for the public to take up the responsibility alongside these institutions. While it is convenient to ignore food recall notices, it is important to understand the reason for these notices. Only through public awareness can this process work more effectively and efficiently.
