The Biggest Food Recalls Of 2018 List

Between deadly romaine, infected beef products, and a popular cereal that sickened dozens, 2018 was full of major national recalls of many popular food and drink products. According to the Food and Drug Administration's database, there were 1,928 food and cosmetic recalls in the 2018 fiscal year (October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018). That might seem like a lot, but it was actually far fewer than the 3,609 the year before (remember the huge bag salad and flour recalls?).

Recalls can range from large to small, sometimes spreading nationwide and other times affecting just one small area of a state. Food recalls can be caused by any number of hidden dangers, including foreign particles in the food, food-borne bacteria contamination, or undeclared allergens. When a food is recalled, it's usually taken quickly off store shelves. But it is important to be vigilant and if a food you bought was recalled, you definitely should not eat it. So, do you really need to freak out over food recalls? Maybe not.

But still, it's always wise to stay informed. In case you missed them, we rounded up the biggest, most impactful food recalls of the year. To compile our list, we turned to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's list of food-borne illness outbreaks and the food recalls that received the most media attention — often because they were the cause for more concern than most. Additionally, we took into consideration the recalls listed on the FDA database and selected those that impacted the most states. Hopefully you managed to avoid the largest food recalls of 2018.

On June 28, 7,768 cases of 15-ounce Wish Bone House Italian Salad Dressing containers were recalled from locations in 31 states. Though the product was made with milk and egg, these allergens were not listed on the label. The recall was considered "Class I," the most serious of the three categories, because ingesting the product could be fatal for those with certain allergies. The recall is ongoing; those with milk and egg allergies should avoid consuming dressings affected by the recall. More detailed information about this recall can be found here.

King Arthur Flour recalled 25,200 pounds of organic coconut flour from 26 states after it tested positive for salmonella. There were no reported illnesses from the products, but consumers who purchased them were urged to throw them away or return them to the place of purchase for store credit or a refund. You can find more details about this recall here.

In January, there was a salmonella outbreak that affected nine states, sickening 27 people, according to the CDC. The outbreak was eventually linked to bags of frozen shredded coconut, recalled on January 3. Salmonella infection can be fatal, especially for young children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. You can read the full details of the recall here.

Eggs were recalled multiple times this year due to salmonella contamination. More than 200 million white eggs distributed by Rose Acre Farms in Seymour, Indiana, were recalled on April 13 after health officials traced multiple illnesses back to eggs produced at the company's facility in North Carolina. The FDA issued a recall notice and warning. Then, the egg recalls continued when Cal-Maine Foods issued an additional recall affecting the eggs distributed from Rose Acre Farms. The recall affected Publix products, among others. It was later discovered that the farm was infested with mice.

The manufacturer behind Applegate, Muscle Milk, Skippy, Spam, and Wholly Guacamole recalled 228,614 pounds of canned pork and chicken products that may have been contaminated with foreign matter, according to the United States Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service. You can find the full list of affected products and more information here. What "foreign matter," you ask? The official notice did not specify. But the issue was discovered after four customers complained of finding metal pieces in these foods.

On September 5, Wayne Farms recalled 438,960 pounds of frozen, fully cooked chicken products because they could contain metal fragments. A news release from the USDA lists all products that were affected. You can find more details about the foreign matter found in the chicken here.

Trader Joe's is known for its extensive prepared foods section, perfect for millennials who are averse to cooking for themselves. However, Trader Joe's and Harris Teeter recently were hit with a recall due to concerns about salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. The USDA release says there were nearly 800,000 pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products affected, all of which contained onions that may not be safe to eat. The release also contains a full list of affected products.