The hottest Recalls Substack posts right now

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Top Food & Drink Topics

Food Safety News and Resources | March

The Rotten Apple • 21 implied HN points • 08 Mar 26
🍲 Food & Drink Recalls
  1. Several unusual and large recalls occurred: frozen grated coconut was recalled for confirmed Hepatitis A contamination, and U.S. producers expanded a recall to about 37 million pounds of frozen meals after glass was found in carrots.
  2. International risk guidance changed: the FAO/WHO panel recommends lowering the reference dose for gluten from 5 mg to 4 mg for risk assessments, while 'gluten-free' labeling remains defined as 20 mg/kg or less.
  3. Food safety threats and capacity concerns are rising: dietary PFAS—especially from freshwater fish, shellfish, eggs and milk—often exceed safety thresholds, and U.S. food agencies have lost many staff, which could weaken oversight and response.

223 | What 795 Food Fraud Cases Tell Us About Risk | Pesticide MRLs | Cereulide Root Cause

The Rotten Apple • 94 implied HN points • 26 Jan 26
🍲 Food & Drink Recalls
  1. A new analysis of 795 food fraud cases shows many fraud incidents also create real food safety risks, so food fraud should be treated as a food safety issue, not just an authenticity problem.
  2. Although 98% of food samples meet pesticide MRLs, the remaining 2% clusters around specific commodities, origins and substances and causes most border rejections and reputational damage; companies must move MRL compliance upstream with supplier guarantees, targeted testing and tighter procurement controls.
  3. The infant formula cereulide problem may be linked to a recent change in ARA-enriched oil production using microalgae and a Bacillus licheniformis protease, highlighting that process changes can introduce unexpected toxin risks and need fast, thorough investigation.

Food Safety News and Resources | February

The Rotten Apple • 31 implied HN points • 02 Feb 26
🍲 Food & Drink Recalls
  1. A strain of Clostridium botulinum that sickened infants was found in organic whole milk powder used in ByHeart formula, traced to a third‑party supplier and sparking blame between suppliers.
  2. Shrimp recalls for cesium‑137 contamination from Indonesian products are continuing, and some recalled shipments were not added to the FDA advisory page.
  3. WHO has updated INFOSAN manuals to strengthen national outbreak surveillance and response, and free guidance and webinars are available on allergen validation, metal detection, and international outbreak investigations.

Food Safety News and Resources | January

The Rotten Apple • 31 implied HN points • 19 Jan 26
🍲 Food & Drink Recalls
  1. Several unusual and serious recalls are happening right now, including a global infant formula recall for the heat‑stable cereulide toxin that has sickened infants, a sea moss gel pulled over possible botulism risk, and frozen beef patties recalled for E. coli O157:H7.
  2. Surveillance and policy are evolving: French monitoring found low STEC prevalence in beef, and the UK/EU have updated shelf‑life guidance to help keep ready‑to‑eat foods safe from Listeria throughout their shelf life.
  3. Food safety risks are both microbial and chemical, with rare outbreaks like Salmonella from raw oysters and extreme lead contamination found in some spices, highlighting the need for strong supplier controls, proper pH/temperature records, and correct cooking or handling.

220 | The worst and weirdest food safety moments of 2025 |

The Rotten Apple • 10 implied HN points • 22 Dec 25
🍲 Food & Drink Recalls
  1. 2025 saw a string of bizarre and serious food hazards — from frozen snakes and radioactive shrimp to anthrax, infant botulism, and deadly Listeria — showing contamination can be unexpected and severe.
  2. Failures across the supply chain made outbreaks worse: companies and suppliers sometimes had poor sanitation, relied on negative test results, mishandled recalls, and retailers failed to pull dangerous products from shelves.
  3. These events show lasting risks: foodborne exposures can cause long-term health problems, myths and fraud (like thinking hand sanitizer removes allergens) increase danger, and stronger prevention, testing, and communication are needed.
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Food Safety News and Resources | December

The Rotten Apple • 10 implied HN points • 21 Dec 25
🍲 Food & Drink Recalls
  1. A norovirus outbreak at a French school sickened about 400 students, staff, and teachers and caused multiple hospitalizations for vomiting and dehydration.
  2. A batch of infant formula in Europe was recalled after Bacillus cereus was detected during self-monitoring at a Nestlé production line, raising safety concerns for infants.
  3. Mixed developments in food safety: U.S. overseas food inspections have fallen to historic lows, peanut allergies in children are declining following early‑introduction guidance, and an updated IFS foreign‑body management guideline plus free webinars and resources are being promoted.

Food Safety News and Resources | February

The Rotten Apple • 21 implied HN points • 10 Feb 25
🍲 Food & Drink Recalls
  1. There have been serious food safety incidents recently, like children dying from toxic snacks in Pakistan and recalls of sausages and baby teething sticks in the US due to choking hazards.
  2. Webinars are being offered to help food businesses improve safety practices, such as using hygienic tools and detecting harmful pathogens more quickly.
  3. Issues with food contamination are ongoing, as seen in recalls of pretzels in Europe due to chemical contamination and alarming hygiene reports from food production plants.

125 | Global Recall Report Card | 5 Mini Case Studies | Floor Salmon | Chlorates in Food |

The Rotten Apple • 31 implied HN points • 12 Feb 24
🍲 Food & Drink Recalls
  1. Food safety breaches and frauds are being detected and individuals or companies involved are facing prosecution, sentencing, and significant fines.
  2. The business allegedly involved in lead contamination of cinnamon is no longer operational, showing the severe consequences of such actions.
  3. The global report on food recalls provides insights into the main causes of recalls in different regions such as the USA, Canada, UK, EU, Australia, and New Zealand.

Food Safety News and Resources | March

The Rotten Apple • 10 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
🍲 Food & Drink Recalls
  1. Probiotic supplements containing Clostridium butyricum should be prescribed carefully especially for hospitalized patients to avoid blood poisoning.
  2. Be cautious of food recalls like meat contaminated with non-food grade mineral oil and consider their implications on public health.
  3. Raw cheese recalls should be taken seriously as they can be linked to severe illnesses like E. coli infections, even if recalls are lifted prematurely.

Food Safety News and Resources | January

The Rotten Apple • 10 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
🍲 Food & Drink Recalls
  1. Recalls of contaminated food products like spinach due to _Listeria_, and moth larvae in crispbreads show the importance of food safety in preventing health risks.
  2. New resources from the FAO provide valuable insights into the impacts of contaminants like pesticide residues and microplastics on the human gut microbiome.
  3. Upcoming webinars offer opportunities to learn about topics like allergen risk assessment, food import regulations, and FSSC 22000 compliance for enhancing food safety management.

195 | More on Listeria in Pasta Meals | Packaging Corner |

The Rotten Apple • 0 implied HN points • 30 Jun 25
🍲 Food & Drink Recalls
  1. There was a recent outbreak of Listeria linked to chicken pasta meals, causing concerns about food safety. Experts agree that these meals should not contain Listeria, and contamination is likely due to issues at the manufacturing facility.
  2. Packaging manufacturers are urged to implement effective allergen control procedures to ensure food safety. A handy template for these procedures is available for download.
  3. There are troubling allegations about food fraud regarding post-consumer recycled plastics used in packaging. Some companies may be misleading customers about the materials, raising concerns about the safety of these products.

160 | Special Edition | Food Safety Competition |

The Rotten Apple • 0 implied HN points • 14 Oct 24
🍲 Food & Drink Recalls
  1. There's a fun food safety escape room competition happening, where teams solve puzzles to win prizes. It's a great way to learn about food safety while having fun.
  2. Recent food safety news includes a huge recall of 10 million pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry. Staying updated on these recaps is important for everyone.
  3. The edition highlights issues like food fraud, particularly with ginseng supplements, showing the need for awareness in food quality and safety.