The Biggest Food Recalls Of 2018

It seems like nearly every day there's a new food recall on the news. That can be alarming, but fortunately, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, and the US Department of Agriculture are all working together to keep everyone safe.

According to CNBC, there has been a pretty shocking increase in the number of food recalls in the last decade. They say it's not because our food is becoming more dangerous, it's just because we're better equipped to head potential outbreaks off before they become a widespread problem. It still happens, of course, and when it does, it can be deadly.

That's why it's important to keep an eye out for news of outbreaks and recalls, and to make sure you're not keeping any recalled products around your kitchen. So, let's recap some of the biggest items that have been on the CDC's danger list this year, so you know what foods to steer clear of. 

This one is particularly important, because it involves a product you might leave hanging around in your kitchen for some time. In February 2018, the CDC issued a final update on Coconut Tree Brand frozen shredded coconut. It had been recalled after at least 27 people across nine states reported falling ill with salmonella poisoning linked to the frozen coconut.

The outbreak started in the end of 2017, and sent several people to the hospital. By February of 2018, recalled packages had been removed from distribution, but the CDC stressed consumers should still be aware of the danger that might be sitting in their kitchens.

International Harvest, Inc. also recalled one of their dried coconut products, called Go Smiles Dried Coconut Raw. It, too, was found to come with the potential of salmonella infection and the CDC also stressed that this particular kind of coconut was often shipped in bulk then repackaged and sold with other labeling, or may have even been sold to customers in bulk bins. Since you may have purchased contaminated coconut even if you don't recognize these brands, you should be extra careful. 

You've probably been told you shouldn't eat raw cookie dough because of the danger inherent in raw eggs — though many of us don't listen to those warnings. In 2018, though, the danger became very, very real.

In April, Indiana's Rose Acre Farms issued a voluntary recall of more than 206 million eggs potentially contaminated with salmonella. The FDA says the eggs were distributed across West Virginia, Virginia, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, New York, New Jersey, Florida, and Colorado, and at least 22 illnesses were reported by people who had eaten the eggs. 

Consumers were asked to check their cartons for a few numbers, including plant number P-1065 and Julian dates between 011 and 102. The eggs were repackaged and sold under a number of brand names, including Crystal Farms, Food Lion, Great Value, Coburn Farms, and Sunshine Farms — meaning that even if you didn't recognize the name Rose Acre, you still needed to check your eggs.

Complications from salmonella infections could include conditions as severe as arterial infections, endocarditis, and could even result in the development of arthritis. Skip the cookie dough... just for now.

Not all food recalls happen because there's a possibility for food poisoning, and in June Wish-Bone issued a voluntary recall on 7,768 cases of 15-ounce bottles of Italian dressing. The problem? They contained egg and milk that weren't declared on the bottles due to a labeling mistake. The only danger was to those who suffer from milk and egg allergies, but for those people, it was potentially life-threatening. Both foods are on the FDA's list of major food allergens, and as of 2004 manufacturers are required to disclose those major allergens on all package labels.

Fortunately, ABC Action News says there were no reported sicknesses resulting from customers unknowingly consuming the salad dressing and its allergens, and they also tell consumers exactly what bottles to look out for. Anything with a "Best If Used By" date of January 13, 2019 was incorrectly labeled, does contain these allergens, and is covered under the recall.

June was a bad month for World Variety Produce, Inc. as well, and that's when they issued a recall on Melissa's Spicy Edamame packets. The problem was a potentially life-threatening one, and according to the FDA, it started with a mix-up at the source. The wrong spice packet was included in the edamame mix and unfortunately, it was one that contained oyster extract. Though oyster is considered a mollusk variety of shellfish and does not fall into the crustacea category that causes most severe reactions, it may still need to be avoided by some people with shellfish allergies. 

The recall was completely voluntary, and the packets containing shellfish could be identified by the "Best Used By" dates on the packet. Anything dated between May 29 and July 2, 2018, contained the wrong spice packet, and the manufacturer instructed consumers to dispose of the product.

Long, hot summer days almost require a certain kind of snack, and melon is pretty much perfect. But throughout June and July, the CDC warned consumers against picking up pre-cut melon. Fruit supplied to numerous distributors by Caito Foods, LLC in Indianapolis had been contaminated with salmonella, and at least 36 people were hospitalized by the time the outbreak was deemed officially over on July 26.

Nine states had stores that received the contaminated melon, and the CDC stressed not only was it vital that consumers not eat the fruit, but that they take extra precautions when it came to cleaning and sanitizing refrigerator shelves and drawers the melon was stored in and on.

There was a wide variety of pre-cut fruit customers were warned against eating, including watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, and melon medleys, particularly those sold at outlets like Walmart, Trader Joe's, Kroger, Walgreens, Whole Foods, and Costco (via the FDA).

Who doesn't love a Swiss Roll? They're a delicious treat when you want something chocolately but not too heavy, but in July 2018, Swiss Roll manufacturer Flower Foods went public with a recall warning consumers they might be getting something else with their chocolate fix: salmonella.

These particular Swiss Rolls are sold at stores including Walmart, H-E-B, and Food Lion, and according to Business Insider, the salmonella outbreak was traced back to a supplier. That means this one gets a little complicated, as they're sold under a handful of names: Mrs. Freshley's, Baker's Treat, Great Value, Market Square, and as Food Lion and H-E-B-branded goodies. Along with the Swiss Rolls, they were also recalling Captain John Derst's Old Fashioned Bread from stores across the south. The recall was, at the time, precautionary, and there were no reported illness stemming from consuming contaminated products. It's better safe than sorry, especially considering children are particularly vulnerable to feeling the worst effects of salmonella poisoning.

No one can deny that Taco Bell's weirdly, unnaturally-colored nacho cheese is one of the best things about eating there, so it was super exciting when consumers got the option to buy it at the grocery store in jar form. In 2018, though, those cheese dreams turned a bit sour when CNN reported around 7,000 cases of Taco Bell Salsa Con Queso Mild Cheese Dip were being recalled because of possible contamination with the bacteria that causes botulism.

They added there were no cases linked to the product, but that if anyone suspected they might have been poisoned, botulism is nothing to mess around with. They asked consumers to seek immediate medical attention if they experienced any symptoms, like difficulty speaking and swallowing, dizziness, and muscle paralysis.

As for the cheese, the recall covered 15-ounce jars with "Best When Used By" dates between December 27, 2018, and January 23, 2019. Manufacturer Kraft Heinz Foods Company added jars containing cheese that separated were likely contaminated, and stressed that even normal-looking cheese shouldn't be consumed.

If there was ever a year to avoid romaine lettuce, 2018 was it. By June, the CDC was reporting hundreds of people had fallen ill after eating romaine contaminated with E. coli, dozens had been hospitalized (some with kidney failure), and there were at least five deaths. The culprit was ultimately traced to contaminated canal water in Yuma, Arizona — the same region where the lettuce was grown. On June 28 the CDC declared the outbreak — but not the investigation — was over.

But by August 1, CNN was reporting there were still ongoing recalls associated with romaine lettuce, but this time for a different reason. According to their report, wraps and salads sold by outlets like Trader Joe's, Walgreens, and Kroger were being recalled after a troubling chain of events. The outlet's distributor, Caito Foods, was alerted by their supplier, Fresh Express, that their supply of romaine may have been contaminated by the cyclospora parasite. Recalled products were dated for anywhere between July 15 to July 23, and the lettuce was linked to the same distributor as the McDonald's recall. This time, the contamination wasn't as potentially deadly... but it might be a good idea to stay away from romaine this year.