Confusion is the enemy of a successful recall. With a new administration in place, the food industry is bracing for changes to food safety regulations and enforcement. Meanwhile, food recalls remain a constant, recently reaching a five-year high. In fact, baked goods, broccoli, canned tuna, and more have been recalled during the first few months of 2025.
Already, the new administration is positioning to shift food safety policies — and has instructed federal health agencies to “pause” communications. Regardless of how federal priorities evolve, food safety remains imperative. Even with the most stringent food safety protocols in place, all food businesses are vulnerable to food safety breaches and subsequent recalls. Processors face risks daily. The best thing food processors can do to protect their brands and their consumers is to build recall-ready communities, which involves three key components:
- Collaborating with supply chain partners.
- Standardizing recall processes and data.
- Practicing with recall simulations.
Companies that invest in recall readiness will be well-equipped for any challenges that arise in the coming months. Keep in mind: the cost of inaction is high. Companies that don’t prepare properly may experience financial, legal, and reputational fallout during a recall. Becoming recall ready isn’t simply something that “would be nice to do” — it’s vital for all food processors and other businesses in this sector.
To accomplish this:
- Work collaboratively with your trading partners. Recalls can impact every supply chain partner — from suppliers to processors and points of sale. Collaborating with trading partners on recall plans ahead of time improves transparency, accuracy, and communication, leading to smoother, faster, more effective responses.
- Standardize data and processes. When trading partners use disjointed systems, processes, and data, it frequently leads to confusion, errors, and inefficiencies in a recall. This could mean delays in pulling contaminated products from the marketplace, increasing public health risks. Standardizing data sets — including product lot numbers, distribution details, and incident specifics — ensures that regulators, trading partners, consumers, the media, and other key stakeholders receive accurate information, minimizing confusion and driving appropriate actions.
- Plan and practice. It can be difficult to think clearly in the middle of a stressful recall situation, so it’s invaluable to create action plans in advance, working with your supply chain partners. This provides a “road map” for all trading partners to follow, guiding you through each essential step. As part of your preparation, conduct recall simulations, so employees understand exactly what to do during a recall. Hands-on simulations — in collaboration with trading partners — help identify and close gaps, build confidence, and ensure that teams are properly trained, aligned, and ready to manage complex recall situations.
- Prioritize communications. During a recall, time is of the essence, and it’s critical to alert consumers and other key audiences quickly and accurately. Even as Federal health agencies’ communication is paused, food businesses must proactively alert consumers (and other stakeholders) about recalls. Work with your trading partners to conduct proactive media outreach, post information on your websites and social media platforms, and push out information through customer loyalty programs. Provide clear, actionable messaging about what happened, why it happened, and what to do next.
- Leverage tech solutions. Tech tools can help pinpoint what went wrong, where contaminated products traveled, etc. Additionally, tech tools allow food companies to issue accurate recall notifications faster and wider, which can help minimize risks and contain the damage. Today’s tech solutions have become much more affordable, accessible, and user-friendly, so companies of all sizes and budgets can rely on these tools to elevate their recall responses.
- Don’t wait. Don’t put off efforts to become recall ready as you await Congressional decisions or court rulings around food safety and recalls. Proactively protect your brand and consumers now — no matter what the future holds.
Government organizations and the food industry are working to find their footing amid changing food safety regulations, policy shifts, evolving communications directives, and ongoing uncertainty under the new administration. This ambiguity may feel overwhelming and stressful. Food processors should respond to this ambiguity by focusing on what they can control: prioritizing food safety, working collaboratively, standardizing processes and data, planning in advance, holding recall simulations, and communicating clearly. While you can’t control what’s happening in DC, you can control your actions moving forward, making every effort to protect public safety as well as your company’s products and reputation.
Roger Hancock, CEO of Recall InfoLink, is one of the world’s foremost experts on recalls, with experience that spans the retail, tech, data, regulatory, and supply chain.
Recall InfoLink makes recalls faster, easier, and more accurate across the supply chain to protect consumers and brands. As the only company focused entirely on recalls, Recall InfoLink’s solutions drive immediate action, streamline the recall process, and simplify compliance. Recall InfoLink helps brands become recall ready by standardizing data, collaborating with their supply chains, and practicing recall simulations.
