Guilt by Association: The Impact of Secondary Recalls Erin Woodom Food Compliance Officer Rapid Response Team Microbiologist Food and Drug Protection Division

Big Picture A recall at any point in the supply chain can have an impact on your business

Weak Links in the Food Chain Recall preparedness is a vital part of operating a food business Even if you are conscientious, can you vouch for your suppliers? Your supplier’s suppliers? Your supplier’s supplier’s suppliers? Your supplier’s supplier’s supplier’s suppliers?

Case Study: Ground Pepper Starting in Summer 2009, an increase in persons infected with Salmonella montevideo was observed Cases appeared across the country (see map at right) Source: Centers for Disease Control

Case Study: Ground Pepper Public Health analysis indicated consumption of Daniele-brand sausage and salami linked to illnesses Follow-up testing found Salmonella in salami products on market USDA and State regulatory agencies began investigating salami manufacturer

Case Study: Ground Pepper Investigation led to recall of approximately 1.3 million pounds of meat products Three-month investigation suggested pepper used in sausages source of Salmonella

Case Study: Ground Pepper FDA tested 3,600 spice samples during investigation Two lots of bulk ground pepper from two different suppliers tested positive for Salmonella Recall of ingredient led to recall of additional products from additional manufacturers

Case Study: Ground Pepper Final Tally – 272 confirmed illnesses from contaminated products; 11 additional possible illnesses – 2 Ground Pepper Recalls – 6 Sub-Recalls from spice company customers – 75 products removed from market Ingredient-driven recalls typically have larger impact and affect more companies

Food for Thought Do you keep records of the lot numbers of your raw materials? How quickly could you trace your product? Do you have a good working relationship with your suppliers? Are you prepared to respond quickly to a recall not of your own making?

2009 PCA Peanut Recall 3,907 products were recalled in approximately 2,100 sub-recalls Estimated $1 billion in economic impact Peanut product sales from all producers dropped due to loss of consumer confidence Are you prepared to manage a crisis among your commodity? Are you prepared to take advantage of it?

2006 Spinach Recall E. coli in bagged spinach caused 199 illness and 3 deaths Significant drop in spinach consumption nationwide Spinach consumers shifted buying patterns to smaller, local growers Some small farms have maintained increased leafy greens sales

Conclusion Recalls from wholesale suppliers can quickly grow in scope and cost Even if you are careful, another link in the chain can cause problems for you Effective crisis planning and management reduces impact and protects your business Recalls from other suppliers can be a business opportunity for prepared firms

Questions? Brett Weed Compliance and Preparedness Administrator Food and Drug Protection Division NCFOODSAFETY.COM