RECALLS OF FOODS AND COSMETICS BY THE US FOOD-AND-DRUG-ADMINISTRATION

Recalls of foods and cosmetics from the marketplace are an expeditious and effective method of removing violative products, particularly tho se that present a danger to health. Recalls are undertaken through a c ooperative effort by industry and the U.S. Food and Drug Administratio n (FDA). Foods and cosmetics recalled from the period 1 October 1991 t hrough 30 September 1992 were reviewed to determine the kinds of produ cts recalled and the reasons for recall. A total of 230 recalls, invol ving 569 foods and cosmetics, occurred during the study period. Twenty -eight percent of the recalls were designated class I, defined as a si tuation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, a violative product will cause serious adverse health co nsequences. The problems for which foods or cosmetics were mast often recalled were misbranding and microbial contamination (37% and 25% of recalls, respectively). A recognized illness or injury was reported to have occurred in association with 32 food products and one cosmetic. This study indicates that recalls of foods and cosmetics are common an d that various groups, including industry, consumers, state regulatory agencies, and the FDA, recognize problems leading to recall.