Ten large or notable U.S. food recalls are explored. Topics include product safety, food safety, and FDA advisories.

1. Large Food Recalls of the
Past 10 Years
A Presentation by:
Food Safety Sanitation

2. Gerber Baby Food
Began: July 2007
• U.S. recall of Gerber brand
Organic Rice Cereal and Organic
Oatmeal Cereal
• Florida parent found about 30
hard chunks in the baby food that
would not dissolve in liquid,
creating a choking hazard.
• The company received many
complaints, however there were
no reported injuries.
Choking Hazard

3. Peanut Corporation of America
Began: January 2009
• Recalled bulk peanut butter and
peanut paste products for
Salmonella
• All products made in the previous
six months were recalled.
• The FDA recalled 3913 different
products from over 350
companies.
• One of the most widespread
recalls in the United States
• Five people died from the case
and hundreds were sick from
salmonella poisoning.
Salmonella

4. Beef Recall of 2008
Began: February 2008
• Cost: $117 million
• USDA orders recall of 143 million
pounds of processed frozen beef
• Westland/Hallmark processers
failed to inspect cattle properly
before slaughter.
• Violations of federal animal care
regulations took place.
• However, inspectors claimed the
meat had no threat to
consumers.
Violation of Federal Animal Care Regulations

5. Nestlé’s Toll House Cookie Dough
Began: June 2009
• The FDA warned consumers not
to eat Toll House prepackaged
cookie dough, due to risk of
contamination with E. coli.
• 300,000 packages of refrigerated
cookie dough were recalled.
• Over 60 people were infected
with E. Coli in a number of states,
often after eating the dough raw.
E. coli
(0157:H7)

6. National Beef Packing Company
Began: August 2011
• Over 60,000 pounds of beef
products were recalled
• The ground beef possibly
contained E. Coli
• The problem was discovered after
the Ohio Department of
Agriculture did routine microbial
testing.
• This was a USDA – Class I Recall
E. coli
(O157:H7)

7. Nestle Nesquik® Powder
Began: November 2012
• An ingredient supplier contacted
Nestle, informing them their
calcium carbonate could possible
contain Salmonella.
• The recall was voluntary and only
affected the Chocolate Powder.
Salmonella

8. Natural Selection Foods
Began: September 2006
• Natural Selection Foods issued a
voluntary recall of all spinach
products due to E. Coli
contamination.
• The incident resulted in hundreds
becoming sick and the death of
three people.
• Farmers faced upwards of $74
million in losses from the recall.
E. Coli
(O157:H7)

9. Cargill Ground Turkey
Began: August 2011
• 136 people were infected
across 34 states.
• The largest Class I recall and
the third largest recall ever
• 36 million pounds of ground
turkey were recalled
• The outbreak involved an anti-
biotic resistant strain known as
Salmonella Heidelberg.
Salmonella
(Heidelberg)

10. Tomato Advisory
Began: 2008
• In 2008, the FDA issued an
advisory to avoid eating certain
domestically produced tomatoes,
which were linked to a salmonella
outbreak.
• This was later found to be false,
but not before causing economic
damage to domestic producers.
• The investigation was eventually
traced back to jalapeño and
Serrano peppers grown in
Mexico.
Linked to Salmonella
(False alert)

11. Cantaloupe Recall of 2012
Began: August 2012
• August 28th, the FDA announces a
recall of cantaloupe due to the
presence of Salmonella
Typhimurium in collected
samples.
• DFI Marketing Inc. voluntarily
recalls cantaloupes that were sold
to retailers in over twenty
different states
• The recall involved about 28
thousand cartons of cantaloupe.
Salmonella
(Salmonella Typhimurium)

12. Peter Pan Peanut Butter
Began: 2007
• There was a salmonella outbreak
linked to Peter Pan Peanut Butter.
• ConAgra, who makes the peanut
butter, recalled 100% of the
product.
• No deaths resulted from the
outbreak, but over 600 people
got sick.
• The recall cost ConAgra close to
$80 million
Salmonella

13. Topps Meat Company
Began: September 2007
• Topps Meat Company, located in
Elizabeth, New Jersey voluntarily
began a recall of ground beef.
• This was the second-largest beef
recall in the country at the time.
• The company closed as a result of
the recall, costing 87 people their
jobs.
• 30 people became ill from the E.
Coli tainted meat.
E. coli
(O157:H7)

14. Credits
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A Presentation by:
Food Safety Sanitation