Food regulated by the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service as well as that falling under the Food and Drug Administration's jurisdiction saw explosive increases in volumes recalled during 2025’s third quarter.
According to data from the Indianapolis-based Sedgwick Brand Protection, the number of FDA food recalls increased by 1.4 percent in Q3 2025 compared to Q2, reaching 145 events. This was the second-highest quarterly total for FDA recalls since Q1 2020. The volume of affected units also surged 75.8 percent, rising from 14.32 million in the second quarter to 25.17 million in the third quarter.
At the same time, Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) food recalls fell by 60.0 percent to just six events, down from 15 in Q2. However, like the FDA, the number of units in those FSIS recalls also surged by an astounding 5,511.8 percent from 1.04 million pounds last quarter to 58.52 million pounds this quarter.
Sedgwick reported that it is the highest quarterly total in more than 13 years.
Chris Harvey, Sr. vice president for brand protection and client services at Sedgwick, says the increased recall volumes do not necessarily mean food is less safe. He points instead to the many preventive measures the food industry has deployed since the passage of the Food Safety Modernization Act.
Year-to-date, there have been 415 FDA recalls impacting 109.74 million units. During the same period in 2024, there were 363 recalls affecting only 45.02 million units.
In Q3 2025, undeclared allergens remained the primary cause of FDA food recalls, with 48 events. The most common allergens cited were soy, milk and nuts, each linked to 10 recalls.
Bacterial contamination was the second-leading cause with 37 events, up from 32 in Q2. Listeria was the most frequently identified hazard, cited in 23 recalls. Bacterial contamination affected 13.33 million units, the largest among hazards in Q3.
Non-bacterial contamination ranked third, with 13 recalls — six of these involved shrimp contaminated by Cesium-137, a radioactive isotope.
Undeclared allergens were second by volume, with 8 million units affected, including a recall of 1.11 million frozen fruit bars for undeclared milk and 3.70 million wasabi packets for undeclared color.
Foreign materials ranked third, affecting 2.65 million units, mostly linked to a recall of yogurt containing plastic.
Prepared Foods experienced the most recalls among FDA food product categories in Q3 2025, with 29 events, down from 50 in the previous quarter. Produce ranked second with 22 events. Dairy was third with 18 recalls. In terms of units impacted in Q3, prepared foods led with 17.05 million units, including a recall of 10.59 million ice cream bars because of Listeria concerns. Dairy was second with 2.60 million units, mainly because of the yogurt recall. Eggs ranked third, with a single recall of 1.70 million units for Salmonella.
FSIS total recalls for the first three quarters of 2025 are higher than the same period in 2024, both in events and in units.
Year-to-date, there have been 30 FSIS recalls involving 59.99 million pounds in 2025. This compares with 28 recalls impacting 7.91 million pounds from January through September 2024.
In Q3 2025, the most prevalent cause of FSIS recall by event was foreign material, with three. No inspection recorded two, and bacterial contamination had one.
By unit count, foreign materials were the leading cause of FSIS food recalls, accounting for 58.03 million pounds in Q3, primarily due to a recall of corn dogs containing wood. No inspection was second by volume this quarter, tied to 367,812 pounds of recalled product. Bacterial contamination was third with 130,916 pounds.
Pork and poultry each had two recalls in Q3 2025. Fish and beef were cited in one recall event apiece. Pork was responsible for the most units recalled by product category, with 58.03 million pounds affected in Q3 2025. Poultry was second with 391,985 pounds impacted, followed by fish with 98,916 pounds.
