Food recalls are unnerving, but they happen every year. From frozen packaged items to fresh produce, we remember dozens occurring in 2017. And so far this year, several companies are already issuing warnings about their potentially unsafe products. Even your pets aren’t necessarily in the clear, as dog food makes the list, too.
So, what other recalls can we expect this year? Judging from trends in the past, we have a few ideas about what may be on the docket. Here are the items you might have to potentially watch out for.
1. Chicken
You know chicken can be dangerous when eaten raw or undercooked — but in some cases, even heating up this poultry isn’t enough to ward away illness. In 2017, many brands of chicken were recalled due to metal contamination and listeria concerns. And even some ready-to-eat items haven’t been safe in the recent past. Food Quality & Safety says Journey Cuisine recalled over 28,000 pounds of chicken and pork burrito products due to possible listeria contamination last November.
Since we’re sensing a yearly trend with chicken recalls, it’s safe to say your favorite poultry product might be next.
2. Bean sprouts
In 2016, the FDA issued an investigation following a multi-state outbreak of salmonella poisoning. It turns out 25 people from 12 states had alfalfa sprouts from the same manufacturer. And that’s not the only time sprouts made headlines, either. In June 2017, Happy Sprout Inc. recalled their soybean sprouts for fear of possible listeria contamination. And The Food Network Canada notes sprouts have been linked to over 30 outbreaks since 1996.
3. Cantaloupe
We’ve seen several cantaloupe recalls in the past, including the one that resulted from a listeria outbreak in 2011. At least 147 people were sick and 35 died from this particularly awful incidence, Food Safety News reminds us. And that’s far from the last time cantaloupe has caused issues.
As of Jan. 2017, researchers are looking into how to make cantaloupe a safer food to eat. The team is looking at how the fruits are handled, packaged, and what surfaces they touch to try and reduce any risk associated with eating them.
4. Beef
Beef has been the center of several illness controversies over the years. Money Inc. reminds us ConAgra had to recall 19 million pounds of beef back in 2002 due to E. coli concerns. And even frozen beef patties aren’t necessarily safe, as they’ve been recalled in the past due to E. coli as well.
More recently, in Dec. 2017, several companies recalled their beef products due to possible “material contamination” and undeclared food allergens. Be on the lookout for more of that in 2018.
5. Eggs
We can’t forget when half a billion eggs were recalled in 2010 after an egg producer in Iowa announced their product may be infected with salmonella. And in 2017, tainted eggs were sold across Europe, prompting another monumental scare.
The FDA explains eggs are the cause of nearly 80,000 cases of food poisoning and 30 deaths a year. And even if your eggs look clean and fresh, there’s no guarantee they don’t contain deadly bacteria. Pay attention to food recalls to see if yours may be contaminated.
6. Milk
This fridge staple has also been the center of controversy in the food recall world before. In Dec. 2017, one brand recalled their whole, raw milk because batches of it tested positive for E. coli, Food Safety News warns. And the CDC explains staph bacteria is also found in unpasteurized milk, which can cause a range of stomach issues just 30 minutes after consumption.
Pay attention to food recalls, as some brands of milk are often on the list at some point during the year. So far, Farmers Dairy in Canada has already pulled their milk products due to customers reporting an off taste.
7. Peanuts
Peanuts and peanut products have fallen under scrutiny ever since the huge recall in 2007 and 2008. CBS News reminds us ConAgra, the company that brings us Peter Pan peanut butter, recalled all of its peanut products in 2007 that were sold since 2004. Unfortunately for consumers, the majority of those products were already eaten.
This isn’t the first time peanut products have sickened many, either, and it probably won’t be the last. It seems once salmonella gets on peanuts after the roasting process, it’s game over.
8. Seafood
It’s certainly delicious, but eating seafood historically comes with quite a few risks. The Food Network Canada notes it’s common for seafood to be recalled over listeria and botulism fears. And mercury contamination is also increasingly common in fresh shellfish.
In recent times, Food Safety News reports a salmon product from True North Salmon Co. Ltd. was recalled due to listeria concerns in Nov. 2017. And Forbes notes smoked seafood actually tested the highest for listeria by the FDA.
9. Cheese
It’s typical to see cheese on the food recall list every year. In Feb. 2017, CNN reports Sargento, one of the leading cheese makers in the U.S., recalled several of their products due to concerns of listeria. And Food Safety News reported that same month that other cheese manufacturing companies, such as Sara Lee, were also hit with a listeria scare.
The CDC explains soft cheeses that are made with unpasteurized milk are 50 to 160 times more likely to give you listeria than the pasteurized alternatives. If you’re concerned about this infection, make sure your cheese products are made with pasteurized milk.
10. Salad mix
Well-known stores like Trader Joe’s, Walmart, and Target were all affected by this recall in 2017. It started with a salad mix at Trader Joe’s, but Consumerist mentions other bagged salad mixes and veggies coming from the same supplier were also possibly contaminated with listeria.
So far in 2018, there’s already been a recall linked to romaine lettuce — another food item commonly contaminated with harmful pathogens. It’s still a good idea to eat your greens, but pay attention to any recalls that may be going on through the year.
11. Ice cream
You probably have a pint of this creamy, delicious dessert in your freezer. Unfortunately, Taste of Home via AOL reminds us even seemingly harmless treats like ice cream can have deadly consequences. In Jan. 2018, numerous ice cream bars from Kroger, Aldi, ShopRite, Stop N Shop, and the Dollar Tree are being recalled due to listeria concerns.
This is far from the first time ice cream has been recalled, too. Blue Bell recalled all its products back in 2015 due to listeria — and there were even a few deaths as a result.
12. Flour
Believe it or not, flour has been the center of multiple food recalls over the years. In 2016, General Mills recalled their flour due to E. coli risk. And in May 2017, multiple other companies also recalled their flour for the same concerns.
So, what makes flour so susceptible to E. coli? Consumer Reports says contaminated wheat fields may be to blame, so they suggest not eating uncooked baked goods that contain raw flour, just in case.
13. Hummus
You probably remember checking your hummus in 2017 — and you may have to do the same thing this year, too. CNN reports multiple brands of hummus produced by House of Thaller were recalled in 2017 due to possible listeria contamination. And the year before that, Sabra hummus was hit with a recall due to listeria concerns as well, says Today.
PBS explains dirty equipment or working conditions are often how foods become infected with pathogens like listeria. And if 2018 is anything like years past, hummus may be on the recall list.
14. Shredded coconut
Yes, shredded coconut has already made waves in 2018 with a salmonella outbreak. Fox News reports this food is typically safe to eat raw, but a particular batch of frozen shredded coconut was recalled due to illness concerns. It seems at least 25 people were affected by this outbreak so far. And an article from the Journal of Applied Microbiology states shredded coconut can be contaminated with salmonella if the product touches soil that has the bacteria in it.
15. Frozen fruits and veggies
Think only your fresh produce can be contaminated and recalled? As evidenced by the shredded coconut, other frozen fruits and veggies are likely to also see a recall in 2018. The New York Times notes over 350 frozen foods such as carrots, onions, and strawberries were all recalled in 2016 due to listeria concerns. And the FDA notes a different outbreak of hepatitis A came from frozen strawberries that same year.
Though we hope all your healthy freezer foods won’t make you sick, it seems these sweeping, widespread outbreaks are common and may affect you this year as well.
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