Here's What Caused Most USDA Food Recalls in 2025
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Youdle) – In 2025, the USDA issued 42 recalls affecting over 71 million pounds of meat and poultry. Here's what you need to know before your next grocery trip.
The Numbers
42 total recalls in 2025
71,420,721 pounds of product recalled
38 classified as Class I (serious health risk)
Primary reasons: foreign material (13 recalls) and undeclared allergens (9 recalls)
That's nearly 72 million pounds of potentially unsafe meat and poultry. The scale is significant.
What Caused These Recalls
Class I recalls mean there's a reasonable probability the product could cause serious health consequences or death.
Foreign material contamination — 13 recalls
Undeclared allergens — 9 recalls
Listeria monocytogenes contamination — Multiple recalls
Shiga toxin-producing E. coli — Multiple recalls
Production without inspection — Several recalls
Import violations — Several recalls
Unapproved substances — Several recalls
Misbranding — Several recalls
Which Products Were Recalled Most
The breakdown by meat type:
Swine products — 11 recalls (most common)
Mixed origin products — 10 recalls
Chicken products — 9 recalls
Beef products — 7 recalls
Catfish (Siluriformes) — Several recalls
Turkey — Several recalls
Sheep/Lamb — Several recalls
When a recall happens, use Youdle to compare prices and find alternatives for products that are frequently recalled. Check the Youdle Community to see what other shoppers are saying about different products and share your own experiences. Stay on top of the latest grocery trends by subscribing to the Youdle Blog. For more detailed information on this topic, you can read the full story from Food Safety Magazine.
