Label recalls are a nightmare for any company to consider. Not only do recalls taint a business’s reputation, but these errors also damage the trust between consumers and brands. Although all label recalls are harmful, not all recalls are the same. This blog will discuss the most common reasons food product labels are recalled to help businesses avoid packaging disasters.
Undeclared Allergens
One of the most common reasons food product labels are recalled is because of undeclared allergens. The FDA requires all food products that contain common allergens to include labels that alert customers to these ingredients.
Without these labels, consumers with severe allergies will likely ingest harmful ingredients and develop allergic reactions. In order to protect customers from developing these reactions, the FDA will issue recalls for any product that fails to include accurate allergen labels. Review our list of the most common foods that require allergen labels below.
The Most Common Food Allergens
- Milk
- Eggs
- Fish
- Shellfish
- Tree nuts
- Peanuts
- Wheat
- Soybeans
Misleading Claims
Manufacturers may also recall food labels and packaging due to misleading claims. Customers often find these claims on products that double as health treatments or medicine.
Foods that claim to have direct health benefits cannot misleadingly claim to cure diseases or stop certain health conditions. For example, if a customer picks up a box of vitamins that states it “cures diabetes,” the FDA or manufacturers would immediately recall this label for misleading customers.
Incorrect Ingredient Labels
Sometimes food product labels include allergen labels but do not accurately publish the rest of their ingredient list. Companies may forget to have an item in their product’s ingredient list or print a list without an ingredient’s scientific and common name.
Since the FDA mandates that all food products must include a complete and thorough list of ingredients, they will automatically recall any products that print incorrect ingredient labels.
Wrong Packaging
Although it may not seem common, businesses often make the mistake of putting the wrong products into incorrect packaging. These mix-ups can happen for various reasons, but luckily, wrong packaging recalls are simple to avoid. Businesses can create organized assembly plans to avoid label recalls and keep customers happy and healthy.
Label recalls are serious setbacks for companies and their relationships with customers. Review these common reasons for label recalls to ensure that your business is taking proper precautions to avoid these mistakes.
