As of: February 5, 2024, 2:48 p.m
By: Marc Dimitriu
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There were 308 recalls in 2023, almost as many as in the previous year.
Ten years ago the number was significantly lower.
(Symbolic image) © IMAGO/Rafael Ben-Ari
The number of recalls has been increasing significantly for years.
In 2023 the number remained constant for the first time compared to the previous year.
The most common reasons for the warnings remained the same.
Berlin – Contaminated or incorrectly declared products are repeatedly recalled.
Last year, 308 recalls of food and other products in Germany were published on an official government platform.
Salmonella is the most common cause of recalls in Germany
“In almost a third, microbiological contamination was the reason for the warning,” said the Federal Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) on February 1st in the annual balance of its portal www.lebensmittelwarning.de.
Salmonella was again the most common cause.
A total of 35 recalls were caused by them in 2023.
In addition, unacceptable ingredients or exceeding limit values were also common causes.
Salmonella
Salmonella are bacteria whose metabolism, according to the Federal Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL), “can trigger acute intestinal inflammation, salmonellosis, in humans”.
A salmonella infection can cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fever and diarrhea and can last for several days.
According to the Robert Koch Institute, deaths from salmonellosis are rare in Germany.
People usually become infected through contaminated meat or through raw eggs that have not been heated enough.
Number of recalls remains constant after years of increase
The number of recalls has remained roughly constant compared to 2022.
At that time there were 311, and in 2023 308 recalls were started.
However, the number of reports had grown significantly in previous years.
In 2013 there were only 75 warnings.
“The consistently high number shows that companies in Germany are complying with their legal reporting obligations,” said the head of the BVL food safety department, Andrea Luger, according to a statement.
Public recalls are now seen as part of responsible management that demonstrates trustworthiness.
In addition, today's analysis methods can detect even the slightest contamination.
Recalls from companies and warnings from authorities regarding food, cosmetics and items such as toys are listed on the BVL portal.
The list includes products that are hazardous to health or that could deceive consumers.
There will also be a new development of the portal soon.
“The new development of the lebensmittelwarning.de portal is scheduled to go online in the summer of 2024.
In the future, we will also be able to offer consumers an app with which they can conveniently access the reports via their smartphone,” said BVL President Friedel Cramer.
Criticism of the recall system – customers find out about it too late or not at all
There is criticism from the consumer protection organization Foodwatch.
Consumers do not find out about many product warnings at all or only find out too late because the recall system has so many weak points.
“Supermarkets must be obliged to clearly display all food recalls in their branches.” The control authorities must also inform people via a newsletter and a warning app and not just via a website, demands Foodwatch.
(md with dpa)