With the recent news of food recalls, it seems that 2024 has been a busy year for the food industry. However, international food safety authorities have dealt with these preventative measures to protect consumers for years. From bacterial contamination to undeclared allergens, the food industry is challenged to meet the most stringent safety measures. One emerging solution that stands out for its effectiveness is High-Pressure Processing (HPP). In this blog post, we explore the key food recall notifications from 2024 and examine how HPP offers a viable solution to minimize such risks in the future.
What can cause food to be recalled?
Food can be recalled for several reasons, for example, contamination with pathogens like Listeria or Salmonella that could give you food poisoning, or because of manufacturing faults, such as plastic or metal being found in the product. Incorrect or missing allergen information can also lead to an allergen recall.
2024: A year in review
The recent food recalls underscore the importance of vigilance and traceability in the food industry. Let’s look at some of this year’s data.
In the United States, the FDA and USDA food safety agencies have registered a total of 229 notifications. The presence of allergens in food and drink products dominates food recalls. Almost half of all recalls from the FDA Food and Beverage notifications (41.6%) are related to undeclared allergens on packaging. In comparison, other major reasons for recalls are Listeria contamination (22.7%), Salmonella contamination (13.5%) and other chemical hazards such as heavy metals or other pollutants (13.5%; Figure 1). Other causes of food recall across this country include the presence of foreign bodies, unsanitary conditions, or labelling errors (not allergy-related).
In Europe, it took us a little while to count and classify a whopping 3853 food notifications reported this year (RASFF Window, October 2024). This represents an 8% decrease from 2023, which recorded the highest number of notifications since 2020.
If we go into the categories, pesticide residues (797 notifications, 21%), pathogenic microorganisms (728, 19%) and mycotoxins (446, 12%) are the top notified hazard categories (Figure 2). Within the notifications related to pathogenic bacteria, following the same trend as in 2023, Salmonella is the most frequent pathogenic microorganism (468), followed by Listeria monocytogenes (147), norovirus (56) and Escherichia coli (47).
These recalls not only threaten consumer health but also damage brand reputations and lead to significant financial losses for companies. This raises the question: How can we better protect both consumers and businesses?
The HPP Advantage
High Pressure Processing (HPP) is gaining recognition as a game-changing technology in the food safety sector. Unlike traditional methods of food preservation, HPP uses extreme pressure instead of heat, ensuring that harmful microorganisms are eliminated without altering the taste, texture, or nutritional value of food.
Additionally, thanks to its remarkable versatility, HPP is a valuable tool in multiple food categories such as juices, guacamole and salsas, meat products, seafood or ready-to-eat meals to name just a few.
How Does HPP Work?
HPP implies submitting packaged products to high pressure levels —up to 600 MPa—to destroy pathogens. This method is particularly effective in combating bacteria like Listeria, Salmonella, and E. coli, which are often responsible for foodborne illnesses and recalls.
Moreover, HPP can extend the shelf life of products, reducing waste and lowering the chances of spoilage-related recalls. Many major food manufacturers have already adopted HPP to enhance food safety and quality. The following video explains how HPP works in every illustrative way:
Case Study: HPP in Action
One of the most prominent examples of HPP’s success is its application in the deli meat industry, where it has been used to reduce the risk of Listeria contamination. As detailed in a recent article on LinkedIn from the Cold Pressure Council, Listeria remains a significant concern for consumers and producers, but HPP offers a reliable solution to this problem.
Conclusion: A Safer Future with HPP
As food recalls continue, the industry must turn to innovative technologies like HPP to ensure greater safety and consumer trust. The ability of HPP to maintain food quality while effectively eliminating harmful microorganisms makes it an ideal solution for many types of products.
By investing in HPP, companies can not only protect public health but also safeguard their brand and reduce costly recalls. As 2024 comes to an end, it’s clear that the future of food safety lies in technologies like HPP, which promise a safer, more sustainable food supply chain.
