Record-Breaking Food Recalls Put Consumers At Risk

Millions of food products were pulled from store shelves and homes during the third quarter of 2025 following a sharp increase in recall activity reported by the FDA and USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). The volume of food recalled during this period has reached levels not seen in over a decade, according to recent data from Sedgwick Brand Protection.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration saw 145 food recall events during Q3, with 25.17 million units affected, which is a 75.8% increase from the previous quarter. Meanwhile, FSIS recalls, though fewer in number, involved an explosive 5,511.8% increase in volume, jumping from just over 1 million pounds of meat in Q2 to more than 58 million pounds in Q3.

These staggering figures reflect widespread issues in food production and packaging, including undeclared allergens, bacterial contamination, foreign objects, and radioactive elements. The implications for consumer health are significant, and anyone harmed by these defective products may have legal options to pursue compensation.

What The Data Shows—Q3 2025’s Food Safety Numbers

The FDA logged 145 food recalls in the third quarter of 2025, its second-highest quarterly total since early 2020. The number of recalled units skyrocketed to 25.17 million, up from 14.32 million in Q2. This dramatic spike raises concerns about both the severity and frequency of contamination events.

So far in 2025, there have been 415 recalls under FDA oversight, impacting nearly 110 million units. For comparison, this time last year saw only 363 recalls involving 45 million units, more than doubling in volume year over year.

FSIS-Regulated Recalls

FSIS recall events dropped from 15 to 6 in Q3, but the quantity of meat and poultry affected exploded to 58.52 million pounds, up from just 1.04 million pounds in the prior quarter. This marks the highest FSIS recall volume in over 13 years.

Year-to-date, FSIS has recorded 30 recall events affecting nearly 60 million pounds of meat. By 2024, that figure stood at only 7.91 million pounds.

The massive quantities recalled highlight not just trace contamination but widespread product failures involving entire production runs or processing breakdowns.

What’s Causing These Dangerous Recalls?

Undeclared Allergens – A Leading Threat to Public Health

The leading cause of FDA recalls in Q3 was undeclared allergens, responsible for 48 events. These cases often involve labeling errors or cross-contamination in manufacturing.

The top allergens triggering these recalls were:

• Soy (10 recalls)
• Milk (10 recalls)
• Nuts (10 recalls)

Some of the largest allergen-related recalls included:

• 1.11 million frozen fruit bars containing undeclared milk.
• 3.70 million wasabi condiment packets with undeclared color additives.

Food allergies can lead to anaphylactic shock, a potentially fatal reaction. Consumers relying on accurate labels for safety face serious risks when these ingredients are omitted.

Bacterial Contamination – Listeria Leading the Way

Bacterial contamination was the second most common cause, rising from 32 incidents in Q2 to 37 in Q3. The most frequently identified bacterial threat was Listeria monocytogenes, found in 23 recall events.

Listeria is especially dangerous to pregnant individuals, newborns, elderly people, and those with weakened immune systems. In Q3, bacterial contamination affected 13.33 million units, the largest total among any hazard category.

One major recall involved 10.59 million ice cream bars due to Listeria concerns.

Foreign Materials – Shocking Items Found in Food

Foreign material contamination accounted for 13 FDA recalls. One of the more alarming cases involved plastic found in yogurt, contributing to a recall of 2.65 million units.

FSIS recalls cited foreign material as the leading cause by unit count, affecting 58.03 million pounds of meat, mainly corn dogs that tested positive for wood particles.

Contaminants such as metal, wood, or plastic pose a serious risk of choking, laceration, or internal injury, especially in children or elderly individuals.

Radioactive Contamination – Cesium-137 in Shrimp

One of the most disturbing findings of Q3 was the discovery of Cesium-137, a radioactive isotope, in six shrimp recall events. Radiation in food poses long-term health consequences, including cancer risks, and its presence in the supply chain raises critical questions about source contamination and inspection oversight.

Which Food Categories Were Most Affected?

FDA-Regulated Categories

Prepared foods led all categories with 29 recall events, followed by:

• Produce: 22 events
• Dairy: 18 events

By volume:

• Prepared foods had the highest unit count at 17.05 million, largely from the ice cream recall.
• Dairy followed with 2.60 million units, mainly due to the plastic-laced yogurt.
• Eggs were third, with 1.70 million units pulled due to Salmonella.

FSIS-Regulated Categories

• Pork saw two recalls totaling 58.03 million pounds.
• Poultry was involved in two recalls for 391,985 pounds.
• Fish and beef were responsible for single recall events.

Foreign material again was the dominant cause for meat recalls, with “no inspection” and bacterial contamination trailing behind.

What Does This Mean For Consumers?

Consumers face increasing exposure to potentially life-threatening hazards in everyday products. When entire categories of food, such as ice cream, fruit bars, shrimp, meat—are affected at this scale, the risk becomes widespread.

These recalls show how serious the impact can be:

• Undeclared milk can kill a child with a dairy allergy.
• Plastic shards in yogurt could injure someone’s throat or digestive tract.
• Listeria in ice cream might cause miscarriages or neurological illness.
• Radioactive shrimp carries unthinkable long-term harm.

Most alarming is that many of these products were sold through national retailers and major brands, making it more likely that affected units reached homes across the country.

Legal Rights For Victims Of Contaminated Or Mispresented Food

When food products contain hidden allergens, bacteria, foreign materials, or radiation, and someone gets hurt or dies, it is not just a recall issue, it may be a legal case of negligence or liability.

Consumers may have grounds to pursue claims such as:

• Product Liability: Holding the manufacturer accountable for producing or selling a dangerous product.
• Failure to Warn: If allergens or contaminants were not disclosed.
• Negligence: If a company failed to follow basic safety protocols during production or packaging.
• Wrongful Death: For families of victims who died due to contaminated or mislabeled food.

Compensation can include:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Long-term care
• Pain and suffering
• Punitive damages (in some jurisdictions)

Because these recalls affect millions of units, victims may not realize the source of their illness or injury until long after consumption. Medical records and product tracking can be used to build a claim.

Food Recall Lawsuit FAQs

What qualifies as a food recall lawsuit?

If you or a family member became seriously ill or injured after consuming a food product later recalled for contamination or mislabeling, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit. Common cases involve allergic reactions, food poisoning, or injury from foreign materials.

How do I know if I was affected by a recalled product?

You can check the FDA or FSIS recall databases, but many people don’t realize until they get sick. If you experienced sudden illness after eating a product later pulled from shelves, medical records, receipts, or packaging can help identify whether it was a recalled item.

Can I sue even if I didn’t go to the hospital?

Yes, depending on your state’s laws, you may still have a valid claim. However, documented medical care strengthens the case and helps determine compensation value.

What kind of compensation can I recover?

Victims can seek damages for medical treatment, lost income, emotional distress, and long-term effects. In fatal cases, families may also pursue wrongful death claims.

What if I no longer have the packaging or product?

You may still have a claim. Witness statements, retail receipts, credit card transactions, and medical diagnoses can support your case. An attorney can assist with tracing the product through distributors or batch records.

Are there time limits to file?

Yes. Each state has its own statute of limitations for product liability or injury lawsuits, usually ranging from one to four years. It’s critical to act quickly to protect your rights.

Contact Parker Waichman LLP For A Free Case Review

If you or a loved one suffered illness, injury, or a severe allergic reaction after consuming a food product that was later recalled, you may have a legal claim for compensation. The national attorneys at Parker Waichman LLP are currently investigating cases tied to the surging food recalls of 2025, including incidents involving Listeria, Salmonella, plastic contamination, undeclared allergens, and radioactive shrimp.

We offer free consultations nationwide and are ready to listen to your story, answer your questions, and take immediate steps to protect your rights.

Call 1-800-YOUR-LAWYER (1-800-968-7529) today for a free and confidential case review. Regardless of your location or where your injury occurred, our nationwide product injury law firm is ready to assist you. You don’t pay unless we win.