In this article we welcome guest author and industry expert, Alec Kyriakides, to explore some of the food safety developments, recalls and incidents that have happened recently.

 

Food Safety Developments

 

Glycerol safety in slush drinks

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published an opinion of the safety of acute exposure to the food additive glycerol (E422) from beverages. An acute reference dose (ARfD) of 125 mg glycerol per kg of body weight was proposed for a single consumption event. The panel concluded that a single consumption event of 250ml and 500ml for children and other population groups, respectively would exceed the ARfD for slush ice drinks.

 

Australia / New Zealand consumer confidence in food safety and Australia recall statistics

The annual Consumer Insights Tracker (CIT) provides information on how consumers perceive food safety together with their engagement with food information. The survey for 2025 highlighted that approximately 70% of consumers surveyed felt confident that food sold in Australia and New Zealand is safe to eat, a result that has remained consistent since 2023. Other areas of improvement included trust in labelling together with greater confidence in interpreting label information.

Food Safety Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) also reported the statistics for product recalls during 2025, highlighting 92 food recalls. Mixed and processed foods were the most common commodity group to be recalled with undeclared allergens being the leading hazard driving the recalls, accounting for 38% of all food recalls. Milk, wheat and gluten, and tree nuts were the most common allergens, with packaging errors, accidental cross contamination and failure to communicate ingredient changes the main contributing factors.

 

Belgian food recalls and outbreaks

The Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FAVV) reported data on food recalls and foodborne disease outbreaks in 2025. There were 378 product recalls and warnings issued during the year consisting of 279 product recalls and 99 warnings. Recalls included chlorate in soft drinks, hepatitis A in blueberries, mineral oil in chips and marshmallows and metal particles in Dubai chocolate. Warnings that were issued due to allergen misdeclaration and incorrect expiry dates were driven by labelling errors. Of the 279 recalls, the most common cause was chemical risk (44%) with microbiological hazards accounting for 39% and physical hazards, 22%.

FAVV reported 773 outbreaks of food poisoning in 2025 affecting 3375 people with 71 hospitalised and 12 deaths. Nearly 20% of the outbreaks were reported to have been contracted in households and the agency provided specific food safety advice for consumers.

 

Ten-year study of foodborne outbreaks in Germany

A study has been published analysing the foodborne disease outbreaks in Germany between 2015 and 2024. A total of 3021 foodborne disease outbreaks were investigated by the German Federal Authorities of which only 9.9% were considered to have sufficient evidence enabling detailed analysis of the causative foods, places of exposure and contributing factors. Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella spp. were the leading causative organisms of the outbreaks. Food of animal origin (milk, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, etc.) were responsible for the highest proportion of outbreaks although it was noted there was an upward trend in outbreaks caused by plant-based foods. Campylobacteriosis outbreaks were particularly associated with raw milk products and poultry meat whereas outbreaks of salmonellosis were associated with a much wider range of foods including pork, eggs, vegetables, poultry, fish, cereals, fruit and bakery products.

 

Irish advice on chalk consumption

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has issued advice to consumers, particularly pregnant and breastfeeding women to avoid the consumption of calabash chalk (also known as calabar chalk, calabar stone, la craie, argile, nzu, ndom, eko and mabele) due the potential presence of high levels of lead. FSAI notes that calabash is sometimes consumed as a traditional remedy for morning sickness.

 

Campylobacteriosis in the UK

Following increased cases of campylobacteriosis reported in recent years in the UK, a number of risk assessments have been conducted to determine likely causes and associated risk factors. These include risk factors for Campylobacter in broiler farms, interventions in cutting and processing plants, interventions at retail, consumer, restaurant, and catering settings, a survey of Campylobacter interventions with food business operators, interventions applied at slaughterhouses and an overall review of the interventions in the food chain with the potential to reduce Campylobacter levels in chicken meat. The overall conclusion is that

 

Foodborne disease outbreaks

Backyard poultry continues to be implicated in cases of salmonellosis with three multistate outbreaks reported in the USA affecting 184 individuals and resulting in 53 hospitalisations and 1 death across 31 states. The largest outbreak was reportedly associated with a high number of people reporting contact with ducks. Eggs were implicated in a large outbreak in Belgium affecting over 230 people. A salmonellosis outbreak at a primary school in Vietnam with 46 suspected cases, 29 of whom were hospitalised, has been linked to the consumption of a school meal that included duck eggs, fish, seaweed soup, tofu, yogurt and rice cakes. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported an outbreak of salmonellosis caused by S. Typhimurium affecting 16 cases so far although the food source has yet to be identified. An outbreak of Salmonella Stanley ST2045 has been reported across a number of EU countries, the UK and the USA with 62 cases. No food source has been identified. A further salmonellosis outbreak with no identified food source was reported to have affected over 300 inmates at a jail in the USA. Although not related to food, a common vehicle for salmonellosis outbreaks are pet reptiles and amphibians and this was highlighted in an outbreak reported in the USA affecting 5 cases across 4 states with two patients hospitalised. This was due to contact with veiled chameleons.

A botulism outbreak in Italy affecting two individuals is suspected to have been caused by bottled olive and almond cream. A cluster of brucellosis infections caused by Brucella melitensis has been reported in adults living in South Los Angeles County, USA linked to the consumption of cheese made from unpasteurised milk, imported from Mexico. The US Ceners for Disease Control (CDC) issued a health notice to travellers due to an ongoing outbreak of ciguatera toxin poisoning in Vanuatu associated with the consumption of fish from coral reefs. Cases have increased to 173 across 10 islands. Similar warnings relating to large reef fish have been issued in Australia. Two norovirus outbreaks affecting over 300 people and implicating two sushi restaurants have been reported in Sweden. An outbreak of listeriosis affecting 3 individuals in Illinois, USA has implicated a brand of pork delicatessen meat. The outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes was isolated from a sample of the product. Beef kofta products from a chain of kebab shops in several states in the USA have been implicated in an outbreak of STEC O157 with nine cases reported.

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) in Hong Kong is investigating a case of “mad honey poisoning” following the consumption of honey imported from Turkey. Grayanotoxin was detected in remnants of the honey and also in the patient’s urine. Grayanotoxin is derived from plants of the Ericaceae family including rhododendrons and the neurotoxin causes symptoms affecting nerves and muscles such as dizziness, blurred vision and general weakness.

 

Food Recall Highlights

The data used for this food recall highlights review is sourced from open access recall databases covering different countries and continents including the USA (Food & Drug Administration and the United States Department of Agriculture), the UK (Food Standards Agency), Germany (Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety) and Australia (Food Standards Australia New Zealand).

 

Microbiological recalls were once again dominated by Salmonella spp. implicating a wide range of commodities such as fish, chocolate, seasonings and tahini. Enoki mushrooms featured again with Listeria monocytogenes contamination events together with Hepatitis A virus in frozen mixed berries.

 

 

Allergen recalls were spread more evenly with infrequent allergens such as crustaceans (shrimp) appearing as a driver plus peanut in garlic powder once again.

 

Physical contamination recalls returned to the usual glass, metal and plastic contamination drivers together with some due to the presence of mussel shells and bone fragments.

 

Chemical recalls included a rise in mycotoxin contaminated products with cereulide also being reported in another infant formula product.

 

 

   

Author

Alec Kyriakides

Independent Food Safety Consultant