Recalls of Foods and Cosmetics by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Recalls of foods and cosmetics from the marketplace are an expeditious and effective method of removing violative products, particularly those that present a danger to health. Recalls are undertaken through a cooperative effort by industry and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Foods and cosmetics recalled from the period 1 October 1991 through 30 September 1992 were reviewed to determine the kinds of products recalled and the reasons for recall. A total of 230 recalls, involving 569 foods and cosmetics, occurred during the study period. Twenty-eight percent of the recalls were designated class I, defined as a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences. The problems for which foods or cosmetics were most often recalled were misbranding and microbial contamination (37% and 25% of recalls, respectively). A recognized illness or injury was reported to have occurred in association with 32 food products and one cosmetic. This study indicates that recalls of foods and cosmetics are common and that various groups, including industry, consumers, state regulatory agencies, and the FDA, recognize problems leading to recall.