The first quarter of 2025 has exposed sharp increases in food recalls across critical supply chains, according to the newly released FOODAKAI’s Global Food Recall Index. With significant spikes in dairy, poultry, and fresh produce categories, the data suggests shifting risk dynamics that food manufacturers and safety leaders must closely monitor.

Published every three months, the Global Food Recall Index tracks product recalls issued by official food safety authorities across a selection of priority food categories. This quarterly update reflects the most pressing recall trends shaping food safety risk management.

Q1 2025: What the Food Industry Needs to Know
Dairy dominates recall activity, again.
Dairy products led all categories in Q1 recall volume, driven by microbiological contamination and handling issues. The volume spike in February signals persistent cold chain and process control challenges. This category is expected to remain under pressure through Q2.
Meat and poultry recalls are climbing fast.
Poultry recalls more than tripled compared to the same period last year, largely due to Salmonella and Listeria. Pork and beef also showed rising activity, marking growing microbial risks in the meat supply chain. Recalls in these categories are expected to increase further in the coming months.
Cereals, cocoa, and fresh produce show emerging vulnerabilities.
Cereal recalls rose sharply due to undeclared allergens and mislabeling, while cocoa experienced a jump in contamination issues. Fruits and vegetables continued to be one of the most recalled categories globally, with pesticide residues and hygiene problems driving the numbers. All three categories are forecast to remain high-risk into Q2.
Eggs and oils show rare decline in recalls.
Unlike most categories, eggs and oils & fats saw a decrease in recall incidents. These lower figures are expected to continue in the near term, though both remain under close surveillance.

About the Index
The FOODAKAI Global Food Recall Index is a quarterly snapshot of food product recall trends across ten critical food categories. Based on official data from national and international food safety authorities, the index helps manufacturers, regulators, and supply chain stakeholders anticipate emerging risks and benchmark recall activity over time.
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Disclaimer: The data presented in this article is based on official food product recall information reported by national and international food safety authorities. While FOODAKAI continuously monitors and compiles these announcements with diligence, the accuracy and completeness of the original recall data remain the responsibility of the respective issuing authorities. FOODAKAI assumes no liability for any inaccuracies or omissions in the reported numbers. The forecasted trends included in this publication are indicative, based on historical patterns and current reporting, and are provided for general informational purposes only. They do not constitute advice or predictions and should not be relied upon for operational, legal, or regulatory decisions. Readers and stakeholders are advised to use this information responsibly and at their own discretion.

Acknowledgement of Horizon EFRA project (Extreme Food Analytics): This Food Risk Report was prepared under the EFRA project, as a Sectoral Data Report.
EFRA is a project that has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement No 101093026
Project website: https://efraproject.eu