Food Recall Surge: Top Threats & Prevention

0:00It's March 31st. You're listening to Dallas News today, AI-powered local news. I'm Corey with the story. Food recalls have spiked 20% over the past five years, sitting way higher than at the start of the decade. The scariest kind, Class 1 recalls, are climbing the fastest at over 36% growth. Total recalls jumped from 505 in 2021 to 613 last year. Alligent mix-ups top the list at nearly half of all cases, like undeclared nuts or dairy sneaking in through cross contamination. Bacterial threats like salmonella or e-coli hit second at about 23%, endangering kids and seniors most. Foreign objects such as plastic or metal round out the top three. Impacts hit unevenly by state, with California seeing products in 38% of recalls while South Dakota gets just 14%. Class 1 means serious risk of illness, or worse, Class 2 is lower odds, and Class 3 barely any threat at all. Manufacturers and agencies like

1:03the FDA and USDA track these closely, issuing alerts to pull risky items fast. Folks in high recall states stay extra vigilant, checking labels and news for updates. Keep an eye on symptoms like nausea or fever if you've eaten something suspect, and hit up a doctor quick, especially if you're vulnerable. Staying informed keeps your plate safe in this rising trend.