Walmart broccoli joins mounting list of FDA food recalls
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The list of food recalls has been growing over the last few months.
Why it matters: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates nearly 48 million people a year are sickened by foodborne diseases, an average of 91 people every minute. `
Driving the news: The FDA upgraded its December recall on Walmart broccoli from the brand Marketside to its highest risk level.
- The FDA reclassified the recall to Class I last week, which is described as the "reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death."
- The agency issued its original recall on December 31, targeting 12-ounce bags of washed and ready-to-eat Marketside broccoli florets in 20 states including Texas and California. The agency cited "potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes" as the reason for the recall, saying that it only applied to Marketside florets with a "best if used by" date of December 10, 2024.
- The FDA recently reclassified its recall of some Costco eggs (due to possible salmonella exposure) and Lay's potato chips (due to undeclared milk) to Class I.
The big picture: The rise in recalls can partially be attributed to an increase in consumer demand for ready-to-eat foods and prepackaged meals.
- "We're also dealing with a scenario where we're having increased globalization of food production, which not only creates more opportunities for contamination at multiple points in the supply chain, but it creates more scenarios where there's blind spots," Darin Detwiler, a Northeastern University professor and food safety advocate, told Axios in December.
Zoom in: 2025 FDA food recalls number over a dozen as of February 3:
- Gerber Soothe N Chew® Teething Sticks. Recalled for potential choking hazard for babies and young children.
- Blue Ridge Beef Natural Mix. Recalled for Salmonella contamination.
- Lay's Potato Chips. Recalled for potential or undeclared allergen — milk.
- Fresh Direct Dark Chocolate Covered Pretzels. Recalled for undeclared milk.
- La Fiesta Breadcrumbs (pan Rayado). Recalled for undeclared allergen (sesame).
- Zaarah Herbals Shatavari Powder. Recalled for potential contamination with elevated levels of lead.
- Wabash Valley Farms, Rural King. Recalled for potential or undeclared allergen – soy
- Paras Premium Golden Raisins. Recalled for undeclared sulfites.
- Colussi "Colussi Cantuccini Chocolate Drops" chocolate chip cookies. Recalled for undeclared almond.
- Shirakiku Snack Foods-Corn Puffs. Recalled for undeclared milk.
- Monkey Spit Barbecue Sauces. Recalled for undeclared milk, soy, and Wheat.
- New York Mutual Trading Co., Inc. Mutual Trading Co., Inc. Monkfish Liver. Recalled for undeclared milk allergen.
- Pearl Milling Company Pancake and Waffle Mix. Recalled for undeclared milk.
- My Mochi My Mochi Peach Mango Sorbet. Recalled for undeclared egg.
- NuGo Dark Chocolate Chip Nutrition Bar and NuGo Dark Pretzel Chocolate Nutrition Bar. Recalled for undeclared milk.
- Dierbergs Kitchen Premium Home-Style Mashed Potatoes. Recalled for undeclared wheat.
- Wicklow Gold Cheddar Style Cheeses. Recalled for potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
A full list of recent recalls can be found on the FDA website.
