What is the top cause of food product recalls in the US? Group of answer choices mycotoxins parasites bacteria undeclared allergens
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer: undeclared allergens
The top cause of food product recalls in the United States is undeclared allergens. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) report that undeclared food allergens are the most frequent reason for recalling food products from the market. This issue occurs when a food label does not properly list allergenic ingredients such as peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, wheat, soy, fish, or shellfish.
Undeclared allergens are a serious concern because they can cause severe or even life-threatening allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. People with food allergies depend entirely on accurate labeling to avoid exposure to allergens. Even a small trace of an allergen can trigger symptoms ranging from mild rashes to anaphylactic shock, which requires emergency treatment.
Food recalls due to undeclared allergens often result from labeling errors, cross-contamination during manufacturing, or changes in ingredients that are not updated on the packaging. For example, a company might change its recipe to include milk powder but fail to update the ingredient list accordingly. In such cases, consumers who are allergic to milk could unknowingly consume the product and suffer an allergic reaction.
Compared to other causes of recalls like bacteria, parasites, or mycotoxins, undeclared allergens occur more frequently because labeling compliance requires extreme precision. Although bacterial contamination, such as Salmonella or Listeria, poses serious health threats and has led to major outbreaks, these events are less frequent than allergen-related labeling issues.
The FDA has implemented strict labeling rules under the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) to reduce these incidents, but mistakes still happen. As a result, food manufacturers are encouraged to implement robust quality control systems and allergen management programs to protect public health and prevent costly recalls.