USDA Food Recalls, 2006-2010

This dataset is comprised of the USDA food recalls for animal products, which are derived from chickens, cows, ducks, pigs, and turkeys. Each recall was coded for: class of recall (i.e. level of severity of recall as determined by the USDA), reason for recall (coded on a number of levels), type of product recalled, and amount of the product recalled. The HRC dataset is reliable and reproducible; it has been compiled with methodological precision, and the coding scheme was developed and tested using measures of intercoder agreement, such that the final coding scheme has a high level of intercoder agreement, attesting to the data’s reliability.

Study highlights:

• From 2006-2008 class 1 recalls accounted for 76%-86% of all recalls but in 2009 class 1 recalls accounted for 65% of all recalls, and in 2010 they accounted for just over half (55%) of all recalls.


• During this five-year period the USDA recalled a total of 211,825,361 pounds of meat-based products. Over half of this was recalled in 2008 (154.7 million pounds) with the majority of the recalls coming from cow-based food products (188.4 million pounds).


• Of the 162 recalls due to contamination, 83% were due to a food-borne pathogen, including Listeria, E. Coli and Salmonella. Most of the remaining recalls due to contamination were a result of a foreign object or material, such as metal or plastic, in the food.