The number of firms recalling product due to foreign material contamination has increased by 157% in the past six years. While metal fragments have been the leading cause, there have been several food product recalls related to plastic fragments. The industry has also seen four massive recalls during the past two years due to pieces of stainless-steel wire contamination.
Bakery and snack products are at the top of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) food recall list due to foreign materials. Metal and plastic particles have accounted for 83% of bakery and snack product recalls; 11% were due to unknown materials. Five percent of the foreign material recalls were related to glass particles and insects.