Slight increase in product recalls
According to the AFSCA, in 2024 Belgian food companies issued 349 product recalls and warnings, a slight increase on 2023 (339 cases, or +2.9%). Of these, 283 recalls concerned products already sold to consumers (compared with 254 in 2023) and 66 were warnings, mainly due to the absence of allergen information on the packaging.
The main reasons for the recalls were
- Chemical risks (42% of cases), for example pesticide residues or unauthorised additives.
- Microbiological problems (33%), such as the possible presence of bacteria such as Listeria or Salmonella.
- Presence of foreign bodies (25%), such as pieces of metal or glass.
In terms of warnings, 95% were linked to the absence of allergens, with the remainder relating to errors on the best-before date. The total number of warnings was down by 20% on the previous year.
By Giorgi Sabanadze
FoodRetail AfscaFavv