It seems like every day there is a new food recall. This time, it's carrots. Multiple brands of the vegetable sold across 18 states have been recalled due to possible E.
coli contamination, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The 39 cases were reported across 18 states, resulting in 15 hospitalizations and one death . Food recalls have been on the rise lately with the total number increasing by 20% between 2020 and 2023, according to Darin Detwiler, a food safety expert and associate teaching professor at Northeastern University.
This upward trend has continued into 2024 and includes Class I recalls that are the highest risk level for consumers. "The increase in food recalls across various products, from deli meats to frozen waffles, has raised questions about whether broader issues within food regulation and oversight are contributing to this trend," Detwiler said. "Several factors could be contributing to the uptick in recalls, and it's likely a combination of circumstances that have created this heightened level of concern.
" One of the factors at play is a restructuring of the Food and Drug Administration, Detwiler said. The transition is aimed at creating "a more centralized, cohesive approach to food safety," he added, but it can also create temporary gaps. On top of this, there's a number of external factors at play.
Many manufacturers relaxed their practices during COVID, which is now catching up to them, Detwiler said. Election season can affec.