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Every week in the U.S., companies and regulators announce recalls of around 60 products, according to the claims company Sedgwick. That includes medical devices,
pharmaceuticals, consumer products, foods and beverages, and
automotive recalls.
But sometimes, products remain accessible to consumers, even after they have been recalled. Earlier this year, for instance, the baby formula company ByHeart recalled its product after reports that it may have been connected to a multistate outbreak of infant botulism. And yet, in the weeks after the recall, regulators still found the formula for sale at
more than 175 locations, according to the Food and Drug Administration, which has since sent retailers warning letters.
Such recall effectiveness checks are a standard part of the recall process, explained Jennifer McEntire, founder of the consulting firm Food Safety Strategy. Let’s start at the beginning. When a food company identifies a problem that might require a recall and enlists her help, “it is a drop everything, very urgent situation,” McEntire said. She starts by digging through documents, checking with regulators, and visiting the places where the product is made.
“Looking at things, talking to people, trying to understand when we think this event occurred, what was happening that doesn’t usually happen,” McEntire explained.
While government agencies can, and sometimes do, mandate recalls, McEntire said usually it’s the companies themselves that ultimately make the decision to recall their own products. “Although the term ‘voluntary recall’ is used, a better term would be ‘firm initiated,’” she said. McEntire said the word “voluntary” can mislead customers. “It can send the message to consumers that, ‘well, if a company is voluntarily recalling this product, then I can choose to follow the directions or not,’” she explained. “And that is not the case.” | 
