Statistics: Food Recall Incidents

A food recall is an action by a manufacturer, importer, distributor or retailer to remove unsafe food products from the market to help protect the public. Canadian consumers enjoy one of the safest food safety systems in the world. However, when a food recall is necessary, a team of CFIA experts work together with industry and other stakeholders to remove the threat by managing the recall of the affected food product. To read more about food recalls, please consult our fact sheet.

The CFIA distributes public advisories to media on high-risk recalls and posts them to the CFIA web site. You can also view public advisories on foodsafety.gc.ca. The CFIA also posts food recalls that are considered to be lower-risk on the CFIA website.

Food Recall Incidents (April 2006 - March 2012)

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Description of Bar Graph for Food Recall Incidents

	Apr 06 - Mar 07	Apr 07 - Mar 08	Apr 08 - Mar 09	Apr 09 - Mar 10	Apr 10 - Mar 11	Apr 11 - Mar 12
Number of Recall Incidents	246	218	236	212	264	301

Food Recall Incidents by Hazard (April 2006 - March 2012)

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Description of Bar Graph for Food Recall Incidents by Hazard

	Apr 06 - Mar 07	Apr 07 - Mar 08	Apr 08 - Mar 09	Apr 09 - Mar 10	Apr 10 - Mar 11	Apr 11 - Mar 12
Allergen	89	54	65	65	121	142
Chemical	45	33	57	35	19	24
Extraneous Matter	26	26	28	19	32	31
Microbiological	64	75	73	75	78	82
Other Food Safety	22	30	13	18	14	22

Glossary

Undeclared allergen: A food product contains ingredients such as peanuts, milk or eggs that are not identified on the label and that can cause adverse reactions in people who are allergic to the item.

Chemical: A food product contains chemical residues such as lead, mercury or pesticides that, at certain levels, can affect human health.

Extraneous material: A food product contains material from an outside source, such as metal, glass or hair. These are not necessarily a risk to human health.

Microbiological: A food product is contaminated by micro-organisms, such as bacteria, viruses or parasites, which have the potential to cause illness.

Other: A food product is of concern due to the presence of marine biotoxins or non-permitted food ingredients; or due to nutrition concerns, irradiation or other health concerns; or tampering.