What the “Summer of Food Recalls” Can Teach Us About Resiliency

By Roger Hancock
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September 16, 2026


• Categories: Food Manufacturing, Foodservice & Retail

We’ve just experienced the Summer of Food Recalls. A number of high-profile, widespread incidents caused consumers to worry about the safety of our food supply. People are questioning whether the industry is doing enough to protect public health. Businesses are feeling the impact.

While it feels like we had more food recalls than usual this summer, the number of recalls is actually on par with recent years. However, the recalls are getting bigger and more complex. Fewer, larger suppliers are serving more points of sale, which is why a single contamination event can have such a massive impact. As we saw this summer, lettuce contaminated with Cyclospora and jalapeños contaminated with Salmonella impacted products across the nation. Both were international suppliers with wide distribution.

Cyclospora outbreaks are nothing new. They’re cyclical and tend to occur during the hot, humid summer months. The scope and scale of the outbreaks are the story’s headline. Longer, international supply chains are unlocking new complexity levels. The industry must learn to manage crises of this magnitude.

Key learnings from this summer’s recalls include:

We can’t stop recalls completely, but we can improve the way we prepare for them. Despite advances, innovations, and prevention strategies within the industry, some food safety breaches and subsequent recalls remain inevitable. Food businesses must become more resilient and better prepared to manage these situations. Resilient supply chains prepare in advance so they’re ready to act quickly and properly during a recall. Develop a recall plan that can guide your team during a stressful, chaotic incident. Train your staff on recall protocols. Practice recall simulations collaboratively with your trading partners. Ensure that employees and partners feel prepared to handle any recall situation.

International supply chains increase complexity. Cross-border sourcing complicates data management. As ingredients move through multiple companies, countries, and regulatory jurisdictions, it becomes more challenging to identify, trace, and contain contaminated products. Knowing your supply chain—and working collaboratively with them—helps prevent, contain, and resolve recalls. This is especially important as supplier consolidation and distribution complexity directly impact recall scale.

Say the right things at the right time. Looking back on the Cyclospora outbreak provides key insights on what not to do, communication-wise, during a recall. Information was incomplete, vague, and confusing, driving consumer fear about the safety of all produce. Communication was slow, as investigators tried to pinpoint the source of the massive outbreak. In hindsight, we understand why it took so long to identify the source. Cyclospora symptoms are often delayed by days or weeks, which complicated the investigation and made it more challenging to pinpoint the source. However, confusion is the enemy of a well-run recall. This situation demonstrated that fast, clear communication matters, even if the situation is still evolving. Explain what you know immediately, then provide real-time updates as they become available.

Reiterate your commitment to food safety. Consumers are collectively nervous about the safety of the American food supply. This is understandable after the numerous recalls—lettuce, jalapenos, eggs, blueberries, etc.—we’ve just experienced. Consumers need reassurance that the industry is taking every possible precaution to keep food safe. This is a good time to reiterate your commitment to food safety. Explain that you’re continuously focused on this issue, and you’ll always prioritize strict, effective food safety protocols.

Rely on tech solutions. As supply chain complexity increases and recall scale continues to grow, data management is even more critical. Data management determines how well a recall is managed, contained, and resolved. The most effective, accurate way to manage recall data is through integrated tech systems. When trading partners use interoperable systems for data sharing, it enables better visibility and traceability, faster action, more targeted recalls, and less risk for supply chains and their customers.

Standardize data and systems now. Unfortunately, we still lack standardized data and systems industry-wide. The good news is that the industry is working on this, but the bad news is that progress is slow. Notably, enforcement of FSMA 204 has been delayed until July 2028. Despite this delay, food businesses across the chain must start building and implementing integrated systems now to improve recall management. Doing so will improve traceability, visibility, info-sharing, transparency, accuracy, and communication—which are all vital to proper recall management.

While we can’t prevent all food recalls, we can improve the way we prepare for and manage these incidents. Key takeaways from this summer—like preparing in advance, communicating quickly, understanding the complexities of international supply chains, and relying on integrated tech tools—will help your company become more resilient. As we’ve seen repeatedly, resilient supply chains are better equipped to manage today’s complex recalls, minimize damage, and protect public health.