At REA JET, we know that clear, quality marking and coding of products can make for more efficient recalls, mitigating the damage to brands while protecting consumer trust and confidence. In some cases, products that are recalled may pose a risk or danger to consumers; it is vital for manufacturers to avoid recalls to the greatest extent possible. What are the latest trends in U.S. product recalls? According to a recent article at JD Supra, the first quarter of 2015 involved recalls of everything from food and medical devices to automotive and consumer goods. Here are a few highlights.
In the food sector, the FDA issued 121 recalls involving more than 19 million food items. The most common cause of these food recalls were undeclared allergens, with 96% of the recalls classified as the most serious, Class I recalls.
Pharmaceutical recalls were smaller in scope and at their lowest tracked per quarter since 2012. 1.7 million units were involved in the 44 recalls involving 28 companies in the first quarter of this year.
Consumer product recalls most common thus far include those involving home furnishings/fixtures, HVAC equipment, safety products, and personal use items. Some of the hazards associated with these 57 recalls included injury, burns, and entanglement.
In the automotive sector, airbags were the number one cause of recalls. In 2014, more automotive recalls were issued than ever before in history; unfortunately, this trend continues as there have been 182 recalls in the automotive industry in the first quarter this year, averaging to approximately two each day.
Meat and poultry and medical devices were other areas experiencing a significant number of recalls. There were 121 recalls of meat, processed egg products and poultry in the first quarter, most of the recalls due to undeclared food allergens. In the medical device industry, 82.5 million units were affected in 252 recalls.
It is clear that product recalls remain a huge problem in the U.S., although strides have been made to reduce the number of recalled products. Health officials have called for stringent monitoring of allergens in the nation’s food supply due to the increasing prevalence of food allergies and allergic reactions.
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