Why food is recalled

The main reasons for food recalls are contamination with hazardous bacteria, or the inclusion of unintended and potentially dangerous items such as glass, chemicals or metallic ingredients. Bacteria can cause food poisoning, listeriosis (listeria), and - potentially fatal- botulism. Inclusion of allergens or use of incorrect labels can also be cause for recalls.

Many countries require wholesalers and manufacturers to recall unsatisfactory products and publish the recalls to protect public health. EU Food Safety law requires the traceability of food and animal feed. When a product is harmful to human or animal health, the law requires recall and says,"In cases where a product may have reached consumers, the operator must inform them and recall the products already supplied."

There are specific EU regulations for food labelling, and a European Food Safety Authority, the EFSA.