In this article:

• Why do foods get recalled?
• How to find out about food recalls
• What should you do with food that is recalled?
• Which foods are recalled most often?
• Unusual recalls

Why do foods get recalled?

A food recall is when unsafe (or potentially unsafe) food is removed from distribution, sale and consumption.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), Australia's food regulator, coordinates dozens of food recalls in Australia annually.

They're classified under eight different categories, but most recalls fall under the following three:

1. Undeclared allergens

Undeclared allergens account for 37% of all food recalls, and dairy, peanut, wheat/gluten and egg are the worst offenders. 

Undeclared allergens may be due to incorrect labelling, incorrect packaging or contamination of the product by an allergen. 

This type of recall may only affect a small percentage of the population – but for those people, a run-in with an unlabelled allergen can have devastating consequences. 

Case study: Dairy causing death

In 2015 multiple coconut milk and water products were recalled because they contained cow's milk, which wasn't labelled. 

People had suffered severe allergic (anaphylactic) reactions to the undeclared dairy ingredients in these foods, and one child subsequently died.

• Want to know more? See our review of food allergy and intolerance tests.

2. Microbial contamination

Microbial contamination is responsible for 28% of all food recalls, and includes contamination with pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses or parasites. 

The microorganisms most commonly associated with microbial recalls are Listeria monocytogenes (42%), Salmonella (21%) and E. coli (18%).

Case study: Frozen vegies carrying Listeria

Frozen vegies sold under multiple brands in major supermarket chains nationally were recalled in 2017 due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. 

While anyone can get ill from eating Listeria-contaminated food, pregnant women and their unborn babies, the elderly and people with low immune systems are particularly vulnerable. 

Customers were urged to check their freezers and dispose of the affected products or return them for a refund.

• For more about food pathogens see our article on food poisoning.

3. Foreign matter

The presence of foreign matter is the cause of 17% of all food recalls. The most common types of foreign matter found in food are metal (33%), plastic (29%) and glass (24%). 

Jump ahead to unusual recalls for some of the strangest – and most unpleasant – reasons for food recalls. 

Why do foods get recalled?

How to find out about food recalls

Businesses recalling food must inform consumers through a newspaper advertisement, a press release to news media outlets, a notice in the store where the product has been sold, their website and/or social media accounts. 

Food recall details are also available through: 

• FSANZ recall webpage and its social media accounts. 
• The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)'s Product Safety Australia website, iPhone app and social media accounts. 
• Allergy and Anaphylaxis Australia's food alerts webpage, which focuses on allergy-related alerts – including recalled products.
• CHOICE food recall webpage.

Information on recalls that need urgent consumer action may also be issued by a media release from FSANZ, the federal Department of Health or a state or territory health department.

What should you do with a food that is recalled?

• If you've bought a food that's subsequently recalled, the standard advice is to not eat it, and either throw it away or return it to the place of purchase for a refund. 
• If you've eaten it and you're concerned about your health, seek medical advice. 
• If you need more information, contact details for the relevant company or health department are always supplied in the recall notice, so get in touch. See Does the latest food recall affect you?

Which foods are recalled most often?

Unusual recalls

We scoured the last eight years of FSANZ recall notices to find some of the more unusual reasons why food products have been recalled. 

• Smelly leg ham. Franklins recalled its Farmfresh leg hams just before Christmas in 2010, because they were emitting an 'unwholesome odour'. 
• Cleaning fluid in milk. In 2011, Parmalat's Pura, Daisy Fresh and Woolworths Homebrand milk, sold in supermarkets nationally, was recalled due to the 'presence of a chemical contaminant (food grade dairy caustic cleaning solution)'.
• Cyanide in tapioca chips. In 2011, high levels of naturally occurring cyanide were found in two brands of tapioca chips, resulting in them being recalled. 
• Pie packaging that can burn. Packaging that could overheat and scorch the consumer was the reason for the recall of Mrs Macs Microwave Pies in 2014. 
• Prescription medication in weight loss chocolate and drinks. Emma Vita-brand weight-loss chocolate and Sumabe Acai Berry Coffee were recalled in 2010 as they contained a non-compliant prescription medication (sibutramine). 
• Alcoholic kombucha. In 2015, Buchi recalled all of its kombucha as it contained alcohol at levels that were potentially intoxicating. 
• Canned tomatoes that can cause injury. A packaging fault causing increased pressure in cans of tomatoes was behind Ardmona's national recall in 2016. 
• Poisonous seeds. Back in 2011, tests indicated that a weight-loss product from Lumsden Health Products may have contained poisonous seeds of the yellow oleander, rather than candlenuts as labelled. 
• Insects in cookies. Target Cookie Mix in Mason Jars was recalled (in January 2017) because it was contaminated with insects. 
• Konjac in jellies. Konjac is a binding food additive sometimes used in jelly. Konjac jellies don't dissolve easily, so can lodge in the throat and cause a choking hazard. Mini konjac jelly cups are banned in Australia, but ACCC surveillance initiated in 2017 has identified multiple non-compliant products, resulting in their recall.