Listeria in cheese. Foreign objects in chorizo sausage. Salmonella in minced meat. Plastic pieces in tropical juice. Metal pieces in cakes. E-coli in garlic sausage. Glass pieces in honey.
Consumer interest in recalled products is high – and one of the most common ways for producers to reach out with information is via the National Food Agency's website.
This year's list – which is based on companies' voluntary reporting to the National Food Agency – contains 63 recalls made up to and including the last day of October.
It's the same number as in 2023, when a record number of recalls were reported to the National Food Agency.
Since then, a few more have been added, so it's going to be a record year, says Mats Lindblad, infection control coordinator at the National Food Agency.
Mislabelled beer
According to Mats Lindblad, recalls usually involve bacteria such as listeria or salmonella being detected. It can also involve plastic or glass being found in the product, or an allergen not being listed on the ingredient label.
At the same time, there are rarer cases where strong beer has been mislabelled as non-alcoholic beer.
Among the products that will be added to the list are, for example, portion snus that was recalled in December due to high levels of the carcinogenic substance benzo(a)pyrene.
Companies' responsibility
At the same time, the large number of recalls should be seen as a good sign, as it means that food producers have carried out their routine checks and reported any safety risks that have arisen.
If a company discovers a hazard in a food or product, the first step is to withdraw the product. If the product has reached consumers, the company must issue some form of recall that reaches consumers, says Mats Lindblad.
Withdrawing products and informing consumers is the companies' responsibility.
If that is not complied with, there is the possibility for control authorities to make decisions on recalls, says Mats Lindblad.
Robin Salomonsson/TT
Facts: Recalled food
TT
Via the National Food Agency's website, companies can spread information about their recalled products. How many companies choose not to involve the National Food Agency to reach out with information to the public is unclear – the list of recalled products is therefore not comprehensive.
Recalled products via the National Food Agency:
2015: 39
2016: 56
2017: 42
2018: 50
2019: 46
2020: 43
2021: 60
2022: 43
2023: 63
2024: 63 (up to and including the last day of October)
Products recalled in 2024 (selection):
Scan: Classic grill sausage that may contain listeria.
Tulip: Turkey bacon due to salmonella.
Ica: Gorgonzola piccante that may contain listeria.
Nils Oscar: Strong beer mislabelled as non-alcoholic beer.
Granit: Original White Portion Large due to high levels of the carcinogenic substance benzo(a)pyren.
Source: National Food Agency.
