Food recalls have seen a significant spike recently, particularly in the third quarter of 2025. Data from Sedgwick Brand Protection highlights that recalls overseen by the FDA rose by 1.4% from the previous quarter, totaling 145 events. That’s the second-highest number of recalls since early 2020, with affected units skyrocketing by 75.8% from 14.32 million to 25.17 million in just three months.
In contrast, recalls from the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) fell dramatically by 60%, dropping to only six events, though the total weight of recalled products surged a staggering 5,511.8% to 58.52 million pounds. This represents the highest quarterly total of its kind in over 13 years.
Chris Harvey, a senior vice president at Sedgwick, suggests that the increase in recalls doesn’t necessarily indicate less safe food. He credits better safety measures put in place since the Food Safety Modernization Act.
By the end of Q3 2025, FDA recalls totaled 415, impacting more than 109 million units. In comparison, the same timeframe in 2024 saw 363 recalls affecting roughly 45 million units.
Undeclared allergens topped the list of reasons for recalls, with 48 events linked to common allergens like soy, milk, and nuts. Bacterial contamination followed closely with 37 events, predominantly involving Listeria, which alone affected over 13 million units.
Interestingly, non-bacterial contamination, including incidents involving radioactive materials, and foreign objects also contributed to the recall totals. For example, there was a notable recall of yogurt due to plastic contamination.
The category of Prepared Foods led the way with 29 recalls, followed by Produce with 22 and Dairy with 18. Notably, the prepared foods category included a large recall of ice cream bars linked to Listeria concerns.
On the FSIS front, while the number of recalls is lower compared to the FDA, the total volume of recalled pounds has outpaced previous years. This year has already seen 30 FSIS recalls affecting nearly 60 million pounds, compared to 28 recalls and just 7.9 million pounds last year.
In 2025, the main cause for FSIS recalls was foreign materials, which included cases of corn dogs contaminated with wood. Pork led in the number of recalled pounds, while poultry and fish also faced issues.
With food safety always in the spotlight, these statistics serve as a reminder of the ongoing challenges in maintaining safe food supplies. As consumers, staying informed about recalls helps in making safer choices.
For more on food safety, you can explore data from trusted sources like the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the FDA.
