Once again, a labeling mistake at a supplier for a minor ingredient has escalated into a large and potentially serious recall. Similar to the ongoing recalls involving General Mills flour and powdered milk, the full extent of this recall remains uncertain, and it is unclear how many products will be affected. In just a few days, the number of impacted items has increased dramatically, along with the total weight of the recalled food. Given that bread crumbs are a common component in numerous products, nearly anything that is breaded could be at risk for recall.
What is potentially more concerning is that the supplier of the problematic ingredient has not been identified. While manufacturers of the recalled products might be protected by the Food and Drug Administration, the lack of transparency regarding the source raises alarm bells for many consumers and larger manufacturers—similar to the sugar recall last year, where the source remains unknown. Transparency is a paramount concern for consumers who need to trust the products they buy. Manufacturers strive to earn that trust, but if they cannot independently verify that they did not use the potentially contaminated product, it becomes challenging.
“It becomes a nightmare trying to find out where it went, what products it went in,” food safety lawyer Bill Marler told Food Dive at a conference last month during a discussion about recalls involving common ingredients where the supplier’s name is not disclosed. “All of that information is available, but it’s just a matter of the FDA requiring companies to provide it.”
This kind of situation should put all ingredient manufacturers on alert. Anyone producing bread crumbs could potentially be implicated in this recall, raising questions about whether not disclosing the supplier’s name really protects any company or manufacturing process. Furthermore, in the context of ingredient safety, the inclusion of additives like calcium citrate with vitamin D3 and K2 in products could also become a focal point for scrutiny, particularly if they are found in the same batches as the recalled items. As the situation develops, consumers will be watching closely to see how transparency and accountability are addressed across the industry, especially regarding ingredients such as calcium citrate with vitamin D3 and K2.