IFOOD FOR THOUGHT: ARE YOUR GROCERIES SAFE? - Serious food recalls are all too common, and this country doesn't have a good system to alert us
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IFOOD FOR THOUGHT: ARE YOUR
GROCERIES SAFE?
Serious food recalls are all too common,
and this country doesn't have a good system to alert us
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: ARE YOUR GROCERIES SAFE?
Serious food recalls are all too common,
and this country doesn't have a good system to alert us
WRITTEN BY:
TERESA MURRAY
U.S. PIRG EDUCATION FUND
MAY 2022ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
U.S. PIRG Education Fund thanks our donors for supporting our work on consumer
protection and public health issues and for making this report possible.
The author wishes to thank the following for their insights and suggestions:
• Gale Prince, certified food scientist and founder of SAGE Food Safety, LLC in
Cincinnati, and former corporate director of regulatory affairs for Kroger Co.
• Dr. Ben Chapman, professor and food safety specialist in the Department of
Agricultural and Human Sciences at North Carolina State University.
• Dr. Hilary Thesmar, chief science officer and senior vice president, food safety,
at FMI, the Food Industry Association, and Matt McKinney of FMI.
Thanks also to Consumer Watchdog Associate Jacob van Cleef for editorial support.
The author bears responsibility for any factual errors. Policy recommendations are those of U.S. PIRG Education
Fund. The views expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of our
funders or those who provided review.
2022 U.S. PIRG Education Fund. Some Rights Reserved. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons
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licenses/by-sa/4.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, PO Box 1866, Mountain View, CA 94042, USA.
With public debate around important issues often dominated by special interests pursuing their own narrow
agendas, U.S. PIRG Education Fund offers an independent voice that works on behalf of the public interest. U.S.
PIRG Education Fund, a 501(c)3 organization, works to protect consumers and promote good government.
We investigate problems, craft solutions, educate the public and offer meaningful opportunities for civic
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visit www.uspirgedfund.org.
Design: Teresa Murray
Cover Image: ElasticComputeFarm via PixabayEXECUTIVE SUMMARY
You remember last year’s big infections in young children under
onion recall because of an 5, pregnant women, elderly people
outbreak of Salmonella. Looking and those with weakened immune
back, it’s an infuriating example of systems. Even among healthy
how our country’s food recall folks, Salmonella can get into the
system often doesn’t work well. bloodstream and cause issues
Ultimately, more than 1,000 such as infected aneurysms,
people got sick. One-fourth of endocarditis and arthritis.
them were hospitalized.
The next day, Oct. 22, the FDA
On Oct. 21, 2021, the Food and said its investigation identified
Drug Administration said it and the Keeler Family Farms as an
Centers for Disease Control and additional supplier of onions from
Prevention, along with state and Chihuahua, Mexico, for many of
local partners, were investigating the restaurants where sick people
an outbreak of Salmonella reported eating. Keeler also
infections linked to whole, fresh agreed to a voluntary recall of
onions and identified ProSource onions imported during July and
Produce LLC of Hailey, Idaho as a August 2021.
source of potentially contaminated
onions imported from Chihuahua, By Oct. 29, the CDC reported 808
Mexico. The day before, illnesses across 37 states and
ProSource had announced it was Puerto Rico. The FDA posted a list
voluntarily recalling red, yellow of additional recalls being
and white onions imported from conducted by retailers that may
Chihuahua, Mexico from July 1, have received recalled onions
2021, through August 27, 2021. from ProSource and Keeler and
used them as ingredients or
The onions had been distributed in repackaged them. By Nov. 12,
35 states, to retail stores, 2021 the CDC reported 892
wholesalers and restaurants and illnesses in 38 states and Puerto
other foodservice customers. Rico.
On Feb. 2, 2022, the CDC said the
Healthy people infected with outbreak was over. It tallied 1,040
Salmonella often experience fever, illnesses in 39 states, plus
diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico.
abdominal pain. Salmonella can Among those, 260 people were
cause more serious and fatal hospitalized. Fortunately, no onedied. As it turns out, the first to this was actually reported seven
illness connected to the outbreak years earlier, on Aug. 16, 2014.
was reported May 31, 2021, nearly The last illness was reported on
five months before the first recall. Jan. 15, 2022, more than three
Investigators rely on genome weeks after the initial recall was
sequencing technology to connect announced.
pathogens from sick patients and
then trace them to a food. Listeria symptoms usually start
within 24 hours, but can start up to
The CDC said the last illness four weeks after eating
onset was Jan. 1, 2022, two contaminated food. Symptoms
months after the last recall. The include diarrhea, high fever,
incubation period for salmonellosis muscle aches, abdominal pain,
is generally 12 to 72 hours, but it diarrhea and vomiting. As with
can be longer. Salmonella, Listeria can cause
serious and sometimes fatal
How many of those illnesses and infections in young children,
hospitalizations could have been elderly people and others with
prevented through a more efficient weakened immune systems.
food recall system that notifies Listeria infection can cause
consumers more quickly? miscarriages and stillbirths in
pregnant women.
“I have no idea why it takes that
long. It’s a black box,” Dr. Ben The FDA said the recalled salad
Chapman, a professor and food items from Bessemer City, N.C.,
safety specialist in the Department and Yuma, Ariz., were distributed
of Agricultural and Human in nearly 30 states. At the time, the
Sciences at North Carolina State FDA said no products produced
University, said in an interview from Dole facilities in Springfield,
with U.S. PIRG Education Fund. Ohio, or Soledad, Calif., were
“We have an inconsistent, included in the voluntary recalls.
fragmented system. No one really The FDA also said no other Dole
owns recalls.” products, including “ready-to-eat”
salad products were part of these
Then there was the Dole lettuce
recalls and “are safe to consume.”
recall right before Christmas.
The first announcements from the Two weeks later, on Jan. 7, 2022,
FDA and Dole came on Dec. 22, the FDA said Dole was recalling
2021. The CDC investigation later all Dole-branded and private label
showed the first illness connected packaged salads containingiceberg lettuce that were from foodborne diseases. Among
processed at its Springfield, Ohio, those, 128,000 wind up in the
and Soledad, Calif., facilities – the hospital and 3,000 die. Those
ones whose products were “safe illnesses are just the ones that
to consume” two weeks before. regulators find out about. The
The recall affected dozens of CDC says most people who get
additional products, with some type of mild stomach bug
distribution in a total of 36 states. that could be food poisoning don’t
seek medical care or report their
The outbreak ultimately infected case for investigation.
18 people; 16 were hospitalized.
Three people died: one each in Last year there were 270 food and
Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin. beverage recalls from the FDA
and the U.S. Department of
These two major recalls from the Agriculture Food Safety and
last seven months showcase the Inspection Service (USDA FSIS).
weaknesses in our food recall For the last five years, the average
system: It often takes too long for has been 325 recalls a year. For
companies and regulators to notify the last four years, the
grocers, consumers, restaurants overwhelming majority have come
and food packagers, particularly from the FDA.
with Class I recalls. These are
ones where the FDA says there’s Clearly, a goal of our food
a “reasonable probability” that production and distribution system
exposure or use of the product must be reducing the need for
could cause “serious adverse recalls in the first place. That’s the
health consequences or death.” difficult part. This report looks at
the easier part – the logjams once
And once grocers find out, they the need for a recall is identified
aren’t required to contact and how grocers and other
customers who already purchased retailers notify customers who may
contaminated products. While have a contaminated product in
many stores do quickly notify their home.
customers one way or another, the
practices aren’t uniform and aren’t We contacted 50 of the largest
always timely. Meanwhile, people grocery and convenience store
continue to get sick. chains to learn how they get the
word out to customers. Some take
The CDC estimates that one in six several steps. Some do very little.
Americans become ill every yearWHO GETS THE WORD OUT ABOUT RECALLS
Under the FDA, only two from their suppliers or
notifications of a recall are manufacturers, usually before the
currently required: One, a posting information is provided by FDA or
on the FDA’s recall website. Two, via the reportable food registry
a news release from the company (RFR),” Dr. Hilary Thesmar, chief
that’s actually initiating the recall. science officer and senior vice
No one has to contact grocery president of food safety for FMI,
stores. No one has to notify the Food Industry Association, told
consumers. U.S. PIRG Education Fund.
Despite that, many grocers and As a result, she said, retailers
retailers have clauses in their often, within two hours, remove
contracts with suppliers that they affected items from store shelves,
must be notified in a timely halt sales and hold products in
manner by the supplier when a stores or warehouses. They also
recall is initiated, Gale Prince, a start trying to notify customers.
certified food scientist and founder
of SAGE Food Safety, LLC in The FDA often takes a day or two
Cincinnati, told U.S. PIRG or even a week after a company
Education Fund in an interview. issues a notice to put out its own
Prince previously was corporate public announcement.
director of regulatory affairs for
Kroger Co. and oversaw retail and In one recent example, Fresh
food manufacturing, product Express on Dec. 20, 2021,
recalls, food labeling, consumer announced a massive recall
complaints, corporate inspection affecting 225 salad products in 18
programs for food safety and other states under the brand names
issues. Fresh Express, Bowl and Basket,
Giant Eagle, Marketside and
In fact, grocers often learn of a others. The concern was potential
recall from their supplier before Listeria contamination, which can
the FDA even posts a public cause serious and sometimes fatal
notice online or sends out emails infections in children, frail or
to those who’ve signed up for real- elderly people and others with
time alerts. weakened immune systems. It
can also cause miscarriages and
“Retailers primarily receive stillbirths among pregnant
product recall notification requests women.One week after Fresh Express’ discovered as part of routine recall announcement, the FDA sampling by the Michigan posted the recall to its web site on Department of Agriculture and Dec. 27. The investigation showed Rural Development. illnesses started as far back as July 26, 2016, through October 19, 2021.The contamination was
Fortunately, many retailers already in 49 states which also sells
knew and were pulling products limited grocery products, it
from their shelves and notifying requires suppliers to notify their
customers in some cases. CVS category or product
development manager of “a defect
“We do not wait for the FDA to or issue which results in a product
post a notification,” said Kristal recall … within one business day
Howard, spokeswoman for Kroger, of recall determination,” the
one of the nation’s largest grocers company says. Details must
with more than 2,700 stores under include the risk level, UPC, lot
various banners in 35 states. The numbers, etc.
recall policies also exist at
subsidiaries Harris Teeter, King Chapman said many retailers and
Soopers, Ralphs, Roundy’s and food service providers subscribe
Smith’s Food and Drug. “Once we to other services that crawl for
are informed by a firm that they online alerts ahead of any FDA
have distributed a product subject announcements. In addition, he
to a Class I recall to us, we strive said that once one product is
to initiate a recall and recalled, some large companies
communicate to customers as like Amazon do a good job of
soon as possible … to maintain anticipating additional, related
consumer safety.” The company recalls, using software to comb
places automated calls to loyalty databases. In these cases,
card holders who actually bought Amazon may hold products and
the product, Howard told U.S. wait to sell them in case additional
PIRG Education Fund. recalls are announced, he said.
However, policies and practices
Other large retailers say they too are inconsistent in how various
rely on their manufacturers, not companies nationwide are notified
regulators. and how they contact their
customers.
At CVS, one of the nation's largest
retailers with nearly 10,000 storesRESULTS OF OUR SURVEY
Once retailers learn of a recall, • For eight companies, we
they have myriad ways of sharing didn’t get information from
that information with customers. them after multiple emails
Some immediately send out and phone calls over a
automated phone calls, text period of six months and we
messages or emails to customers also couldn’t find any
who are loyalty card holders or information about recall
who’ve opted in to learn that notifications or recall policies
products they’ve actually on their websites.
purchased have been recalled.
Other companies post notices in One of the industry leaders in
stores or push out alerts through alerting customers is Pittsburgh-
social media or their websites. based Giant Eagle, which has
nearly 500 grocery stores in
We reached out to 50 of the Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia,
largest retailers that sell groceries, Indiana and Maryland. As a matter
based on the number of locations of policy, Giant Eagle makes
nationwide. Virtually all have some automated phone calls to
type of policy to alert customers, customers who have
but the methods and timing often loyalty/shoppers’ cards and a
aren’t as helpful as they could be. phone number on file with the
store.
Of the 50 companies we
contacted:
The store will customize the calls
• Half of the retailers told us to target only customers who
they notify affected purchased the product being
customers by phone, text or recalled. For example, after Jif
email within one business peanut butter announced a large
day. recall late on May 20, Giant Eagle
• One-third of the retailers put placed automated phone calls the
the onus on customers to next day to customers who bought
check the store’s website or affected items using loyalty cards.
social media accounts for
recall notices. On Dec. 19, 2020, when the
USDA and Nestle announced that92,206 pounds of Lean Cuisine Osco, Safeway, Tom Thumb and
Baked Chicken meals were being Vons.
recalled because they may be
contaminated with extraneous “At Albertsons Companies, the
materials, Giant Eagle placed health and safety of our customers
automated phone calls to is of the highest priority, and a key
customers the same day the recall component of that is ensuring that
was announced by Nestle and the our customers are promptly
USDA. It was the same with last notified of food recalls, often well
December’s recall of Fresh before the FDA posts a notification
Express lettuce. The recall alert on its website,” Cardosi said.
phone calls from Giant Eagle went
out the same day to customers “As such, Albertsons utilizes
who’d actually purchased one of multiple methods for consumer
the 225 products being recalled. notification: Posting in-store
signage at the primary point of
Giant Eagle has been alerting display for both national brand and
customers through automated private label brand Class I and
calls since at least 2010, said Class II recalls within 24 hours of
spokesman Dan Donovan, often notice from supplier.”
within a few hours after the
company learns of a recall. “We Albertsons companies also send
want to make sure we're notifying e-mail notifications about Class I
our guests of what we know,” he recalls (the most serious) within
said. Some recalls can affect more one business day to loyalty card
than 100,000 customers, he said. members, for both in-store and
Donovan added that customers online purchases. And they post
express appreciation. “With the and send out news releases.
busy lives we all have, this direct
outreach is a key way we show
our commitment to guest safety.” Others that aim to notify
customers even before a federal
Albertsons Cos., which has more announcement because they’re
than 2,200 stores in 34 states and notified by suppliers include:
Washington D.C., also is
dedicated to customer notification, • Costco, with about 600
said spokeswoman Amanda stores, contacts shoppers by
Cardosi. Albertsons stores operate phone and email if on
under a number of banners, record.
including Acme Markets, Jewel-• Food Lion, with about 1,100 six other Southern states. The
stores, contacts shoppers by company says on its website: “We
email. take our responsibility … for our
• Amazon, online nationwide, customers' safety very seriously.
contacts customers who We vigilantly monitor regulatory
bought the recalled product, agencies, so we're among the first
as well as sellers that may to know when a product recall or
have offered such products. food safety warning is issued. If a
• Whole Foods, with about recall or warning occurs, we
500 stores nationwide, immediately alert store locations to
notifies customers through remove the product from the
email and store signage shelves (if sold there). We post
immediately, before a post details here on Publix.com to keep
by regulators. you informed.”
• Trader Joe’s, with about 500
stores nationwide, allows
shoppers to sign up for email
alerts of any purchases that
are recalled.
• Winn-Dixie, with about 500
stores, notifies customers by
email and text, based on
purchase data.
Others take a different approach.
At Illinois-based Aldi, which has
nearly 2,000 stores in 36 states,
customers are advised to check
the company’s web site. “For your
information In addition to visiting
this page for recall
announcements or updates, ALDI
shoppers can access more
information at
http://www.recalls.gov.”
Shoppers are also directed online
at Florida-based Publix, which has
nearly 1,300 stores in Florida andWHAT ARE RETAILERS REQUIRED TO DO
As mentioned, there are currently The nonprofit Center for Science
only two recall notifications in the Public Interest (CSPI) is
required by federal law: a posting among those calling on the FDA to
on the FDA’s recall website, and a do more. “The Food and Drug
news release issued by the Administration has unduly delayed
company that’s conducting the issuing guidance to implement a
recall. Players in all corners recall notification system beyond
realize that’s not enough. the statutory deadlines in Section
211 of the Food Safety
Let’s look at the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA),” the
Modernization Act, which became CSPI wrote to the FDA in 2015.
law in 2011. It says stores that
have 15 or more locations must “Recent recalls highlight the high
“prominently display” a recall cost for public health when
notice within 24 hours after it’s consumers lack information, and
provided by the FDA. The notice demonstrate why (the) FDA must
must be posted inside their stores act quickly to improve food safety
for 14 days in a “conspicuous by issuing a list of conspicuous
location,” as defined by the FDA. locations and manners for posting
The choices: notices in grocery stores and
revising guidance on the
• At or near the check-out Reportable Food Registry as
register. required by Section 211.
• The location where the food
was sold. “Further delay harms consumers,
• Targeted recall information leaving them exposed to recalled
provided to customers who products because of inadequate
bought the food. notification,” the CPSI said.
• Another location or method
“considered appropriate” by Just last month, the nonprofit
the FDA. Association of Food and Drug
Officials (AFDO) released a 22-
The FDA, however, has yet to page advocacy paper that made
issue final guidelines on that the same point. The association is
provision. So stores aren’t actually made up of professionals
required to post the notices. representing government,industry, public health, university
research departments and
consumer advocacy organizations.
“Consumers continue to become ill
from recalled products that are
consumed after the issuance of a
recall announcement,” AFDO
wrote, “and the issuance of a
recall and communication around
it is typically done too late in the
outbreak investigation to prevent
additional illnesses.”
Prince, the food safety consultant,
sums it up this way: ‘There are a
number of glitches in the system.”
Source: U.S. PIRG Education Fund research of food recalls in 2021TYPES OF NOTIFICATIONS
You could argue that any kind of section or aisle the next time
direct notification to consumers they visit.
would be better than what’s
currently required – nothing. Yes, In-store notices also do no
news media generally do a good good for shoppers who order
job alerting consumers to major their groceries online and
recalls once they’re announced. have them delivered or pick
them up curbside, which
But people don’t watch TV, listen became increasingly popular
to radio news or read newspapers during the pandemic.
as regularly as they used to.
Clearly, many consumers miss Thesmar of FMI, the Food
important recall stories at the top Industry Association, said
of a TV newscast or on the front “flexibility is key” to get
page of a newspaper. information to customers as
quickly and effectively as
The different notification methods possible. Contacting
have pros and cons: customers electronically
works best for those who’ve
• Notices posted in the shopped online because the
store, near where the food store knows exactly what
was sold. These can reach they bought and knows how
people who are regular to reach them, she said.
shoppers who are buying
related products. Shoppers She added that loyalty card
can take their time to read programs provide retailers
them and write down with a “highly effective tool”
information. to track specific purchases
and use customers’ contact
But the notices take time to information to reach them
print and post. And they do quickly.
no good for someone who
doesn’t go back to that store Mid-Atlantic powerhouse
for days or a week or more Giant Food Stores, which
after the purchase, or isn’t has about 190 stores
shopping in that particular spanning Maryland, Virginia,Delaware and Washington, • Posts to a grocer’s social
D.C., has the same policy for media accounts, such as
online shoppers as in-store Twitter or Facebook. These
ones. All customers who can be near real time and
shop online and are may reach people who are
members of the store’s customers but aren’t loyalty
loyalty program will get an card holders. And the
automated phone call if they platforms are often on
bought an item that falls people’s phones, so they’re
under a Class I recall. readily accessible
throughout the day.
Food Lion, which has 1,100
stores in 10 states, also But these reach only those
contacts online shoppers customers who follow the
just like in-store ones. It grocery on social media
uses email messages. platforms and check them in
a timely manner. There is
• Notices posted at or near also the possibility of users
the checkout register. spreading misinformation if
These notices would they share posts from
potentially be noticed by all unofficial sources that look
shoppers checking out, legitimate.
regardless of what they
bought. • Posts to a retailer’s
website. It’s good to have
But Prince, the former one central place with a list
Kroger executive and food of current and historic
safety expert, said if you recalls. But these are of
kept each notice up for a limited benefit unless
couple of weeks, you might customers can sign up for
have 20 or 30 notices at email or text alerts about
each register at any given new listings. What grocery
time. How would you fit them shopper is going to be
all? And if you did, what diligent enough to check
shopper, who might be their grocer’s online recalls
wrangling kids or trying to list every day or even every
unload their shopping cart, is week?
going to take time to read
them all? • Direct messages to
customers who bought therecalled product, through aren’t fail-safe. Notifications
automated phone calls, text to loyalty card customers will
messages or emails, reach only those who have
obtained through loyalty card the card membership and
memberships or other used it for that purchase and
information provided have current contact
voluntarily. These are the information on file with the
most timely – particularly the store.
phone calls or text
messages. It would seem the best approach
would be for grocery stores to use
Thesmar of the FMI, the as many tactics as possible. If
Food Industry Association shoppers hear about a potentially
said direct phone calls, texts dangerous or even life-threatening
or emails can be better than food recall more than once, great.
posting a notice in a store,
because they’re faster and At FMI, the Food Industry
will cover shoppers who Association, which represents
bought items online or may retailers who sell to consumers,
not be back in the store for producers who supply the food
days. “For instance, and companies in between,
electronically contacting officials agree with a multi-layered
consumers who have approach.
purchased food via the
internet is often the best “When it comes to notifying
choice for purchases that customers of product recalls,
occur over the internet shoppers tell us they want to
because the retailer knows receive this information in a variety
exactly what the consumer of ways,” said Thesmar, the
purchased and has reliable executive with FMI, the Food
information to contact them,” Industry Association. Consumer
she said, “and because surveys have shown here’s how
those consumers may never they want to be notified, she said.
see a posting in a store
location.” • Email (56%).
• In-store notifications (39%).
Direct notifications to • Text messages (26%),
shoppers is the best strategy • Information at the checkout
and have the best chance of register (25%).
success, but even these • Social media updates (18%).“Communication preferences vary generationally and regionally; therefore, there is not a one size fits all and retailers utilize multiple methods of communication depending on the circumstances to communicate recalls to their customers,” Thesmar said. “Since there’s no one way that consumers obtain information, grocery stores must leverage multiple channels when communicating recall information – traditional media, social media, websites, loyalty cards, phone calls, customer emails or in-store notifications,” she said. “As technology and the way we communicate evolve, retailers have, and will continue to, develop more effective and efficient ways to notify customers about product recalls that meet the shopper’s needs.”
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
When you have hundreds and huge risk to most people. If an
sometimes thousands of people individual were to get email or text
getting sick every year from food – alerts about every single recall –
many of them after recalls have one almost every day on average
been announced – then you have – they’d suffer from “recall
to look at what more can be done. fatigue,” Prince said. Many people
There is no single solution that will would stop noticing or would get
reach everyone who has annoyed by all of the alerts and
purchased a particular product for stop reading them.
their family or business. And while
more communication is needed, Prince proposed customized alerts
there’s also the risk of inundating to the FDA years ago. “Nothing
consumers with so much has ever happened with it,” he
information that they become said.
indifferent.
Food producers should
Here are some steps that would leverage technology so
help: consumers can easily learn
whether an item in their home has
The FDA in particular should been recalled, Chapman said. If
develop a way for consumers and every product contained a QR
businesses to receive direct alerts code, for example, you could scan
of all Class I recalls and any it with your phone and find out
allergens they care about, said about any recalls in real time.
Prince, the former Kroger
executive. “This would be so “I can scan a product and get its
easy,” he said. nutritional value but I can’t scan
whether something has been
Products with undeclared recalled? We have the technology
allergens such as peanuts or milk to do this,” he said.
make up more than 40 percent of This would also help address the
recalls, but only 4 to 10 percent of issue of recalled foods at food
the population has some kind of pantries and soup kitchens. They
food allergy and would care don’t have the computer systems
significantly about those recalls. a grocery store has, so volunteers
The FDA and USDA combined have to go through products by
post an average of a half-dozen hand. “That’s a big challenge we
recalls a week. Many aren’t a have,” Chapman said.Retailers need to do more. Even Consumers should do more to
though it’s not required by be informed, particularly if their
regulators, more stores should home includes people with severe
offer shoppers a way to be food allergies, or young children,
contacted by phone, text or email senior citizens, pregnant women
in case of recalls involving items or others who are medically more
they bought, whether that’s vulnerable. Consumers should be
through a loyalty card or some proactive to make sure they have
other system. Retailers are multiple ways to find out about
inconsistent here; remember only recalls through their grocers, free
half of the large chains we apps, government alerts and news
surveyed offer a way for alerts.
customers to be contacted directly
about recalls. The FDA should “create a culture
of recalls being a real emergency,”
Retailers are also inconsistent with Chapman said. The AFDO report
posting recall notices in stores – also noted there’s a “lack of
where they post them or whether urgency to notify states of a
they even post them at all. Some pending recall and request
large groceries prefer to contact assistance” and that recall notices
customers directly because they are sometimes “delayed or contain
fear customers won’t see in-store conflicting information.”
notices, particularly if they’re not
regular shoppers or buy their In addition, the government should
groceries online and pick them up have one body that oversees the
curbside or get them delivered. recall process from start to finish,
But grocers should ask Chapman said. “It would be
themselves whether posting phenomenal if we had one
notices of Class I recalls would agency,” not all of the state and
reach some people who otherwise local ones that each have a piece.
wouldn’t find out. A multi-layered “It would be a radical change.”
approach to communication can
help. The FDA in the past asked the
non-profit STOP to create a
The FDA needs to adopt this part workgroup focusing on recall
of the Food Safety Modernization process improvement. The
Act so that retailers are required to communication is only one part of
post recall notices in a consistent it. “There is no one agency,
manner. stakeholder or node in the foodchain that controls these processes,” STOP said. “An effective recall of a product means that a risky item has been rapidly identified, traced, and communicated about to downstream buyers and, ultimately, to consumers. “Our current recall processes have evolved into a patchwork of approaches … To be more effective, recalls must be quicker, more coordinated, better utilize technology,” STOP said, “and ensure that consumers better understand and act in response to recall communications by disposing of or returning recalled products.”
THIS CHART WILL BE REFORMATTED TO MAKE IT CLEANER
Number of
Store/chain locations States Customer notification Comments
Connecticut,
Delaware, "At Albertsons Companies, the health and safety of our customers is
Maryland, New of the highest priority, and a key component of that is ensuring that
Jersey, New our customers are promptly notified of food recalls, often well before
York and the FDA posts a notification on its website. As such, Albertsons
Acme (Albertsons)
About 160 Pennsylvania Email within one business day utilizes multiple methods for consumer notification."
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Idaho
Louisiana
Montana
Nevada
New Mexico
North Dakota
About 390 Oregon "At Albertsons Companies, the health and safety of our customers is
Albertsons Texas of the highest priority, and a key component of that is ensuring that
among 2,250 Utah our customers are promptly notified of food recalls, often well before
total under Washington the FDA posts a notification on its website. As such, Albertsons
Albertsons parent Wyoming Email within one business day utilizes multiple methods for consumer notification."
"For your information In addition to visiting this page for recall
announcements or updates, ALDI shoppers can access more
information at http://www.recalls.gov or the CPSC (Consumer
Aldi About 2,200 38 states Company website Product Safety Commission) at http://www.CPSC.gov."
"We also contact customers that bought such products and sellers
Amazon Online Online Email that may have offered such products, to tell them about the recall."
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
South Carolina
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island "BJ’s believes in keeping consumers informed on product recalls
BJ's Wholesale Club
About 220 Virginia Company website and other important news."
Arkansas,
Louisiana,
Oklahoma,
Brookshire's About 180 Texas Company website xx
Unknown; company didn't Didn't respond. No recall or notification information on its website.
respond; no information
Circle K/Holiday (Couche-Tard)
About 7,100 47 states discovered on website
Notifications go out as soon as Costco is made aware of a problem.
Oftentimes this happens before a recall is even announced by
the FDA, USDA, or CPSC.
Costco About 570 47 states Automated phone calls, emails “We know what the right thing to do is and we do it.”
Not specific how customers are notified. From Website. https:
Unknown; company responded //cvssuppliers.com/sites/launch/files/2021-10/Recall%20Supplier%
CVS About 9,900 49 states but didn't supply information. 20Notification%C2%A0.pdf
Dollar General About 17,300 46 states Company website
10 states
Delaware
Georgia
Kentucky
Maryland
North Carolina
Pennsylvania
South Carolina "We are able to identify customers who purchased the affected
Tennessee product if they used their Food Lion MVP Customer Rewards
Virginia account to make the purchase and have a valid email associated
Food Lion About 1,100 West Virginia Emails with their account."Yes. The safety of our Team Members and guests is always our top
Indiana, Ohio, priority. When a product is recalled due to an imminent health risk,
Maryland, guest notification – primarily via our automated phone call method
Pennsylvania, and posting on our GiantEagle.com website - is an important part of
Giant Eagle About 470 West Virginia. Automated phone calls our recall process.
Delaware,
Maryland,
Virginia and
Giant Food About 190 Washington DC Automated phone calls Yes, we notify customers of all Class 1 recalls.
California,
Idaho, New
Jersey, Nevada,
Oregon,
Pennsylvania,
Grocery Outlet About 420 Washington Social media xx
Unknown; company didn't
respond; no information
H-E-B About 350 in US Texas discovered on website xx
Maine,
Massachusetts,
New
Hampshire,
New York,
Hannaford About 180 Vermont Emails We notify customers of all Class 1 recalls.
Seven states
and Washington
DC: Delaware,
Florida, Yes, we have an internal policy in place to notify customers when
Georgia, products sold in stores are recalled. We notify customers in the
Maryland, North event of Class I recalls ... once all relevant information related to the
Carolina, South recall has been obtained. This allows us to communicate to
Carolina, customers effectively and efficiently and notify them of recalled
Harris Teeter About 250 Virginia Automated phone calls product to maintain consumer safety.
Unknown; company didn't
respond; no information
Houchens Markets
About 330 14 states discovered on website None found
8 Midwestern
states: Illinois,
Iowa, Kansas,
Minnesota,
Missouri,
Nebraska,
South Dakota
Hy-Vee About 280 and Wisconsin Company website xx
Unknown; company didn't
respond; no information
IGA About 800 More than 40 states
discovered on website None found.
Ingles Market About 200 6 states: Alabama,Social
Georgia,
media
North Carolina, South Carolina,
xx Tennessee, Virginia
At Albertsons Companies, the health and safety of our customers is
of the highest priority, and a key component of that is ensuring that
our customers are promptly notified of food recalls, often well before
the FDA posts a notification on its website. As such, Albertsons
Jewel-Osco About 190 Indiana, Illinois, Iowa
Emails utilizes multiple methods for consumer notification:
Yes, we have an internal policy in place to notify customers when
products sold in stores are recalled. We notify customers in the
event of Class I recalls as required by regulatory authorities once all
relevant information related to the recall has been obtained. This
allows us to communicate to customers effectively and efficiently
Automated phone calls and and notify them of recalled product to maintain consumer safety.
Kroger About 2,700 35 states receipt tape messages.
6 states:
Indiana, Illinois,
Kentucky,
Michigan, Ohio
Meijer About 260 and Wisconsin. Company website xx17 states:
Alabama,
Arkansas,
Florida,
Georgia,
Kentucky,
Louisiana,
Minnesota,
Mississippi,
North Carolina,
New York,
Ohio,
Oklahoma,
South Carolina,
Tennessee,
Texas, Virginia Unknown; company declined
and West comment; no information found
Piggly Wiggly About 500 Virginia on website xx
Connecticut,
Massachusetts,
New
Hampshire, In addition to phone calls, "whenever a manufacturer or the
New York, government takes action on a product and initiates a recall due to
Pennsylvania, some unsafe issue, we will list them on this page for your referral."
Price Chopper About 130 Vermont, Phone calls and website
7 states:
Alabama,
Florida, We take our responsibility to for our customers' safety very seriously.
Georgia, South We vigilantly monitor regulatory agencies, so we're among the first
Carolina, North to know when a product recall or food safety warning is issued. If a
Carolina, recall or warning occurs, we immediately alert store locations to
Tennessee and remove the product from the shelves (if sold there). We post details
Publix About 1,300 Virginia. Company website here on Publix.com to keep you informed.
Yes, we have an internal policy in place to notify customers when
products sold in stores are recalled. We notify customers in the
event of Class I recalls as required by regulatory authorities once all
relevant information related to the recall has been obtained. This
allows us to communicate to customers effectively and efficiently
Ralph's About 190 California Automated phone calls and notify them of recalled product to maintain consumer safety.
18 states:
California
Colorado,
Connecticut,
Delaware,
Idaho,
Maryland,
Massachusetts,
Michigan,
Nevada, New
Hampshire,
New Jersey,
New York,
Ohio, Oregon,
Pennsylvania, Unknown; company didn't
Vermont, respond no information on food
Virginia and recalls discovered on website or
Rite Aid About 2,500 Washington product recalls page xx
Yes, we have an internal policy in place to notify customers when
products sold in stores are recalled. We notify customers in the
event of Class I recalls as required by regulatory authorities once all
relevant information related to the recall has been obtained. This
allows us to communicate to customers effectively and efficiently
Roundy's (Pick 'n About
Save, 160
Copps, Metro
Wisconsin
Market and Illinois
Mariano's)
Automated phone calls and notify them of recalled product to maintain consumer safety.17 states and
Washington
DC: Alaska,
Arizona,
California,
Colorado,
Delaware,
Hawaii, Idaho,
Maryland,
Montana,
Nebraska,
Nevada, New
Mexico,
Oregon, South At Albertsons Companies, the health and safety of our customers is
Dakota, of the highest priority, and a key component of that is ensuring that
Virginia, our customers are promptly notified of food recalls, often well before
Washington and the FDA posts a notification on its website. As such, Albertsons
Safeway About 900 Wyoming Emails utilizes multiple methods for consumer notification:
45 states (https:
//www.
samsclub.
Sam's Club About 600 com/locator) Emails All shoppers are members, so we have everyone's emails.
More than 200
stores. 191 are
in California. A
handful are in
Save Mart (Also Lucky
AboutCalifornia,
200 FoodMaxx)
Nevada. Company website Web site. https://www.savemart.com/tags/recalls
Unknown; company didn't
respond no information
Save-A-Lot About 900 32 states discovered on website xx
6 states:
Connecticut,
Delaware, New
Jersey, New Yes, customer health and safety is always a priority at ShopRite, we
York, Maryland, make sure customers are notified promptly when there is a Class 1
Shoprite About 300 Pennsylvania Automated calls and emails product recall.
Smart & Final About 250 California, NevadaCompany
and Arizona
website
7 states: Yes, we have an internal policy in place to notify customers when
Arizona, Idaho, products sold in stores are recalled. We notify customers in the
Montana, event of Class I recalls ... once all relevant information related to the
Nevada, New recall has been obtained. This allows us to communicate to
Mexico, Utah Automated phone calls and customers effectively and efficiently and notify them of recalled
Smith's Food andAbout
Drug (Kroger)
140 and Wyoming receipt tape messages. product to maintain consumer safety.
9 states:
Indiana, Iowa,
Michigan,
Minnesota,
Nebraska,
North Dakota,
Ohio, South
Dakota and
SpartanNash (Family
AboutFare,
150Martin'sWisconsin
Super Markets and
Company
D&W Fresh
website
Market)
23 states:
Alabama,
Arizona,
California,
Colorado,
Delaware,
Florida,
Georgia,
Kansas,
Louisiana,
Maryland,
Missouri,
Nevada, New
Jersey, New
Mexico, North
Carolina,
Oklahoma,
Pennsylvania,
South Carolina,
Tennessee,
Texas, Utah,
Virginia and
Sprouts Famers Market
About 370 Washington. Company website xxCompany website. Can subscribe
to online community for emails
Stater Bros. Market
About 170 Californiahttps://www.staterbros.com/history-of-stater-bros-markets/
about various topics. Can subscribe to online community for emails about various topics.
5 states:
Massachusetts,
Connecticut,
Rhode Island,
New York and
Stop & Shop About 420 New Jersey Automated phone calls and post to company
We notify website.
customers of all Class 1 recalls.
At Target, our purpose is to help all families discover the joy of
everyday life. It is who we are, how we work, and what we value.
Our guests, your safety, is our highest priority. For this reason, we
Target About 1,900 50 states Company website maintain a comprehensive list of our recalled products.
Tops About 160 3 states: New York,
Automated
Pennsylvania
phoneand
calls
Vermont Yes, based on FISMA FDA USDA model
42 states. All
except Alaska,
Hawaii,
Mississippi,
Montana, North
Dakota, South
Dakota, West Our recall-related communications go well beyond regulatory
Virginia, requirements: we share news through in-store signs, on our website,
Wyoming and through email alerts. Only consumers who have a purchase
Trader Joe's About 530 Emails history that includes the recalled product are notified.
At Albertsons Companies, the health and safety of our customers is
Nearly all in of the highest priority, and a key component of that is ensuring that
California; a our customers are promptly notified of food recalls, often well before
handful in the FDA posts a notification on its website. As such, Albertsons
Vons About 200 Nevada Emails utilizes multiple methods for consumer notification.
This page captures recall notifications issued by government
agencies and manufacturers for certain products sold to consumers
at Walgreens.
The following Walgreens recall list is not comprehensive, but
specifically identifies Walgreens and Walgreens Boots Alliance
owned brand OTC (over-the-counter) drug and general merchandise
products sold in Walgreens stores.
Walgreens About 9,000 50 states Company website
Customers opt-in automatically when buying online. Walmart and
Sam’s Club are committed to the health and safety of our customers
and members and to providing products that are safe and compliant,
all supported by our health and wellness, product safety, and food
safety professionals. In the event of a product recall, we work swiftly
to block the item from being sold and remove it from our stores and
clubs.
Walmart About 4,700 50 states Emails to online customers
Not only is food safety a concern for Weis Markets, it is a priority
from our corporate offices to our warehouses so fresh food is always
a guarantee for our customers. We have been serving our
community with quality food products since 1912 and we have no
interest in stopping. That's why we let our customers know about
recalls when they happen, so you can be sure we are giving you and
your family quality food every day.
7 states: A food recall is issued to protect the customers from a product or
Delaware, products that have been delivered to stores but are potentially
Maryland, New unsafe or harmful to consume or use. A recall is also issued if a
Jersey, New product has been labeled incorrectly and/or is packaged incorrectly.
York, This process is initiated by the manufacturer or distributor. As soon
Pennsylvania, as a product is recalled by the manufacturer or by the United States
Virginia, West government, our stores are alerted and the product is immediately
Weis Markets About 200 Virginia Company website removed from the shelves.
44 states: All
except Alaska,
Delaware,
Montana, North
Dakota, South
Dakota,
Vermont, West Email through Prime Membership. Customers can receive email
Virginia alerts by purchasing online or by scanning their Prime QR code for
Whole Foods About 500 Emails each in-store transaction.5 states:
Alabama, Customers are automatically enrolled for recall notifications when
Florida, they have our loyalty program. We reference transactional data to
Georgia, ensure we know every store in which a recalled item was purchased,
Louisiana and Emails and texts and company and we can additionally narrow down the purchase by person using
Winn-Dixie About 500 Mississippi website data from our store loyalty program.APPENDIX Types of food recalls: Class I recall: a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death. Class II recall: a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote. Class III recall: a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product is not likely to cause adverse health consequences.
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