2024 has been a year of rapidly cycling headlines – between the major pop culture moments and historic presidential election, however, there was one recurring theme: food recalls.
From Boar’s Head and McDonald’s to cucumbers and carrots, outbreaks of illnesses caused by E. coli, listeria and salmonella have been the primary cause of the recurring recalls, some of which resulted in hospitalizations and deaths.
While it may seem food recalls are on a dramatic uphill slope, data from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration shows no major uptick. Instead, it seems more likely that the public and health officials are simply paying more attention and getting better at identifying outbreaks quickly with advancing technology and improving testing methods.
With a new recall seemingly every week, however, it can be difficult for the average consumer to keep up with the onslaught of food safety alerts. Here’s a look back at some of the largest food-related recalls of 2024.
Boar’s Head
In one of the most high-profile food recall cases of the last decade, a deadly listeria outbreak attributed to Boar’s Head cold cuts, specifically its liverwurst, resulted in several deaths this summer.
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First reported on July 19 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the outbreak ultimately resulted in the recall of roughly 7.2 million pounds of product by Boar’s Head. The company later blamed the outbreak on its liverwurst, which it has since discontinued.
All told, the outbreak made 61 known people ill across 19 states, resulting in 60 hospitalizations and 10 deaths. It also led to the closure of the Jarratt, Virginia facility in which the recalled meat was produced, leaving roughly 500 workers without jobs.
Department of Agriculture inspection records obtained by USA TODAY and other outlets later showed more than 60 reports of “noncompliance” at the Jarratt, Virginia plant including reports of insects and green mold, as well as mildew, dripping and standing water and other unsanitary conditions within the plant in the years leading up to the July recall.
The fallout has been wide-reaching, though the outbreak itself was declared “over” by the CDC in November. A USDA investigation into the agency’s handling of the situation is ongoing and several lawsuits remain underway.
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Slivered onions used on McDonald’s Quarter Pounders
An onion recall initiated due to possible E. coli contamination made headlines this fall after being linked to McDonald’s burgers.
The E. coli outbreak was attributed to raw slivered onions served on Quarter Pounder burgers, which the chain temporarily pulled from some of its menus. McDonald’s previously told USA TODAY that Taylor Farms had supplied onions to McDonald’s in the areas impacted by E. coli illnesses, and US Foods, to whom Taylor Farms is a third-party supplier, issued a recall on raw diced, peeled and whole peeled onions produced by the company on Oct. 22. However, the recalled Taylor Farms Colorado onions were not related to the company’s removal of Quarter Pounders, the company said.
The outbreak was declared “over” by the CDC and FDA on Dec. 3, having caused 104 illnesses across 14 states, including 34 hospitalizations and one death in Colorado.
McDonald’s has since “identified an alternate supplier for the approximately 900 restaurants that had temporarily stopped serving Quarter Pounder burgers with slivered onions.”
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Dairy products
In one of the first recalls of 2024, Rizo-López Foods of Modesto, Calif. recalled about four dozen dairy products for possible contamination with listeria.
The recalled products – including cheese, crema, yogurt and sour cream – were distributed nationwide and sold under brand names including 365 Whole Foods Market, Don Francisco and Tio Francisco.
The FDA and CDC began investigating in January 2024 after the Hawaii State Department of Health reported it had found a sample of Rizo Bros Aged Cotija that tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. Officials said this amounts to a multi-year multistate investigation because of previous listeria outbreaks connected to Rizo-López Foods in 2021 and 2017, with cases dating back to 2014.
The CDC and FDA reopened the investigation in January 2024 after the cheese sample showed that it was the same strain of listeria that caused illnesses in the earlier outbreaks.
The CDC declared the outbreak over in April, having resulted in 26 illnesses with 2 deaths and 23 hospitalizations in 11 states.
BrucePac meats
Ready-to-eat meat producer BrucePac issued a recall in October for what ultimately amounted to 11.8 million pounds of product for listeria concerns.
The meat and poultry were used in frozen and ready-to-eat items across hundreds of brands, distributors and products, leading the USDA to release a 400-plus page list of recalled items.
The recall impacted not only well-known brands like Fresh Express, Udi’s, Dole and Amazon Fresh, but popular grocery suppliers as well, including Walmart, Kroger and Trader Joe’s. The USDA later released a preliminary list of roughly 200 schools across at least 17 states that received products included in the recall.
The outbreak is still listed as “active” by the USDA, though the last update was released on Oct. 17. There have been no confirmed reports of illness related to this recall.
Cucumbers
A cucumber recall linked to a salmonella outbreak that has sickened 100 people across 23 states since October is still ongoing, according to a Dec. 19 FDA statement.
As of the most recent update, 100 people across 23 states were infected with the outbreak strain of salmonella, resulting in 25 hospitalizations. No deaths were reported.
In November, Arizona company SunFed Produce recalled cucumbers sold Oct. 12 through Nov. 26 in more than two dozen states – including at some Walmart, Wegmans, and Albertsons stores – and in parts of Canada. Costco and Kroger also recently notified customers they sold some of the recalled cucumbers.
Since the initial recall, the FDA has issued several updates adding additional brands subject to the recall, including Crazy Fresh, Quick & Easy and Sprouts Farmers Market, among others.
Grimmway Farms carrots
California-based produce company Grimmway Farms grappled with E. coli concerns after issuing a recall for multiple sizes and brands of bagged organic baby and whole carrots on Nov. 16.
The CDC declared the outbreak officially “over” on Dec. 18, reporting a total of 48 illnesses across 19 states, including 20 hospitalizations and one death in California.
The carrots were distributed and sold under a handful of brands, including Trader Joe’s, Wholesome Pantry, Cal-Organic, 365 and more.
Wolverine Packing Co.
Detroit-based meat manufacturer Wolverine Packing Co. recalled about 67,200 pounds of fresh and frozen ground beef products for E. Coli concerns in November after illnesses were reported by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
While the products were distributed to restaurants nationwide, 15 cases of E. coli poisoning were identified in just Minnesota, with illness onset dates ranging from Nov. 2-10, said the USDA. No deaths were reported.
The recall covered over 100 raw fresh and frozen ground beef products. Products were sold under other brand names in addition to Wolverine Packing Co., including 1855 Beef, Davis Creek Meals, Farmer’s Choice, Heritage Restaurant Brands and Cheney Brothers, Inc., according to a list of labels released by the USDA.
Frozen waffles
Perhaps one of the more unexpected recalls of the year, TreeHouse Foods issued a voluntary recall of its frozen waffle products in October due to potential listeria contamination.
The waffles were sold across brands like Best Choice, Kodiak Cakes and Good & Gather, and at several stores including Dollar General, Publix, Stop & Shop, Target and Walmart.
TreeHouse Foods told USA TODAY that the issue was found at one of their manufacturing facilities. There have been no confirmed reports of illness linked to the recalled products to date.
Eggs
A salmonella outbreak was linked to eggs in September, resulting in 65 people becoming infected across nine states. The illnesses started in May and hospitalized 24 people.
According to the FDA and CDC, impacted eggs were supplied to retailers across Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan by Milo’s Poultry Farms LLC. The eggs were labeled with Milo’s Poultry Farms or Tony’s Fresh Market. No deaths were reported.
Cinnamon
The FDA issued recalls in 2024 for several brands of cinnamon due to the presence of the toxic heavy metal and other “possible health risks.”
A September Consumer Reports analysis identified 12 brands whose cinnamon and multi-spice powders contained such high traces of lead that a quarter of a teaspoon of any of the products would exceed an individual’s daily consumption threshold.
Ground cinnamon sold by U.S. discount retailers including Dollar Tree and Family Dollar was also found to be contaminated with lead, the FDA said in March.
Yu Shang Food Inc. Ready-to-Eat Meat and Poultry
On Nov. 9, Yu Shang Food issued an initial recall of 4,589 pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products for listeria concerns. On Nov. 21, the recall expanded to include a total of 72,240 pounds, including all Yu Shang Food, Inc. products made before Oct. 28, 2024.
Recalled products included all those labeled with Yu Shang Food, including Yushang Brand Cooked Chicken, Seasoned Pork Hock, Japanese Chashu Pork Belly and more.
In a Dec. 5 update, the CDC said a total of 19 people became ill across eight states, including 17 hospitalizations and two deaths.
