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.