(Australia only)
Page last updated April 2023
Why do we collect food recall data?
We collect data on Australian food recalls to identify trends and common issues in the food industry and help find ways to prevent future incidents.
An analysis of annual food recall statistics for the last 10 years is below. For statistics on allergen-related recalls see Undeclared allergen food recall statistics. Our statistics are updated annually.
Food recall statistics (1 January 2013 - 31 December 2022)
Between 2013 and 2022, FSANZ coordinated 791 recalls including 75 recalls in 2022 (Figure 1). The 10 year average slightly increased from 78 recalls per year (2012-2021) to 79 recalls per year (2013-2022).
Figure 3: Food recalls by recall level 2013-2022
There are two types of food recall - consumer and trade. A trade recall is conducted when the food has not been available for direct purchase by the public, such as food sold to wholesalers and caterers. A consumer recall is conducted when the food has been available for retail sale.
Between 2013 and 2022, consumer recalls accounted for 87% of all food recalls and trade recalls 13% (see Figure 3).
Table 1: Food recalls by year and classification 2013-2022
Reason | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
2022 |
Biotoxin | 2 |
3 |
15 |
5 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
Chemical/ contaminant |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
6 |
4 |
10 |
Foreign matter |
7 |
14 |
7 |
7 |
9 |
16 |
5 |
11 |
5 |
11 |
Labelling |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
6 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
Microbial |
12 |
26 | 12 | 21 | 9 | 20 | 30 | 27 | 19 |
18 |
Other |
0 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
4 |
Packaging fault |
3 | 3 |
3 |
1 |
7 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
Undeclared allergen |
16 |
27 |
39 |
33 |
35 |
46 | 32 |
51 |
38 |
29 |
Total | 42 | 76 | 81 | 72 | 69 | 100 | 87 | 109 | 80 |
75 |
Between 2013 and 2022 most of the recalls were due to undeclared allergens (44%) and microbiological contamination (25%) as shown in Table 1. Both Microbiological contamination and undeclared allergens have shown an overall increasing trend .
Undeclared allergen food recalls
Microbial contamination food recalls
Between 2013 and 2022 there were 194 food recalls due to microbial contamination (see Table 1).¯As shown in Figure 7, the most common microbes were¯Listeria monocytogenes¯(70 recalls; 36%),¯Salmonella¯(44 recalls; 23%) and¯Escherichia coli¯(E.coli) (38 recalls; 20%).
Foreign matter food recalls
Between 2013 and 2022 there were 92 recalls due to foreign matter (see Table 1). As shown in Figure 8, the most common types of foreign matter were plastic (30 recalls; 33%), metal (27 recalls; 29%) and glass (19 recalls 21%).
Biotoxin food recalls
Between 2013 and 2022 there were 38 recalls due to Biotoxins (see Table 1). As shown in Figure 9., the most common type of Biotoxins were Paralytic Shellfish Toxin (24 recalls; 63%).
Chemical/contaminant food recalls
Between 2013 and 2023 there were 30 recalls for chemical and other contaminants (see Table 1). The most common contaminants were 'other' contaminants (22 recalls; 72%) and cleaning/sanitising agent (4 recalls; 13%) as shown in Figure 10.