Dive Brief:
- Undeclared allergens, one of the major reasons for FDA's Reportable Food Registry (RFR) reports and recalls, accounted for nearly half of the RFR reports from Sept. 8, 2013 to Sept. 7, 2014, or year five of the registry's existence, according to the RFR's fifth annual report. Bakery products made up most undeclared allergen reports in all five years.
- The number of primary reports (initial reports about a safety concern) for the dairy industry more than doubled from 10 in year four to 24 in year five. Half of the dairy-related reports in year five were for undeclared allergens.
- Listeria was named as a trigger for a significant number of reports in year five, including reports associated with RTE salad products and stone fruits.
Dive Insight:
Listeria remains an issue for manufacturers. Putting in place practices and documentation that abide by FSMA preventive measures could reduce the instances of listeria contamination, which would cut down on manufacturers' recalls and all costs involved. Those practices could range from filling in gaps to overhauling current systems.
According to the number of primary reports filed for listeria concerns, manufacturers that produce RAC produce, prepared foods, seafood, and dairy products may have the most to be concerned about. Packaged salads are a source of opportunities for manufacturers that want to appeal to consumer demands for better-for-you foods and convenience, but this category poses safety hazards.
Dole is currently facing litigation and a pending criminal investigation due to a listeria-related recall of its packaged salads from earlier this year.
Undeclared allergens are another key safety-related focus for manufacturers, as they are common but often easily preventable by careful management of ingredients lists and production methods. General Mills recalled Cheerios products last year due to contamination of wheat flour when the product was labeled gluten-free. Mars recalled Dove chocolates due to undeclared allergens caused by pieces of other allergen-containing Mars products getting mixed into the Dove packaging during production. FSMA preventive measures could mitigate similar risks going forward.