How many food recalls were there in 2016?

The FDA reported 3,011 food recall enforcement actions in 2016, of which 1,337 were Class I, 1,362 Class II and 312 Class III. That is 6% more than the 2,834 reported in 2015.

What caused the most food recalls in 2016?

Undeclared allergens appears in 730 of the 3,011 recalls reported in 2016, followed by listeria monocytogenes with 688. A single recall can name more than one hazard, so these counts overlap.

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FDA food recalls reported in 2016

The FDA reported 3,011 food recall enforcement actions in 2016, 1,337 of them Class I. That is 6% more than 2015. Data last updated 2 September 2026.

Records of 29,386: 3,011
Share of all recalls: 10.2%
Class I of 3,011: 1,337
Reported between: 2016 to 2016

Who got ill

The CDC recorded 855 foodborne outbreaks in 2016, with 14,443 reported illnesses, 960 hospitalisations and 31 deaths. That is 9.5% of the 9,038 foodborne outbreaks in the dataset, and 2.1 in every thousand of those reported ill died.

The setting recorded most often was a sit-down restaurant, in 369 of the 790 where a setting was named.

Outbreaks: 855
Reported illnesses: 14,443
Hospitalised: 960
Deaths: 31

Foodborne outbreaks reported to CDC, National Outbreak Reporting System (NORS) for 2012 to 2023, read 2026-09-15. An outbreak is two or more illnesses traced to a common food, so this counts people rather than product, and it does not cover the recall years after 2023.

What is different about 2016

The hazard that separates 2016 from the national picture is e. coli: 7.5% of these records name it, against 1.9% of all FDA food recalls.

By product, 2016 is weighted toward bakery: 20% of the records here against 12.9% across the corpus.

A recall in 2016 stays open a median of 354 days between the report and termination, against 215 days for the corpus as a whole. Termination follows the firm accounting for every unit of the affected lot.

These recalls travel further than most: 31.1% state nationwide distribution, against 20.7% of all records.

What changed in 2016

A rule changes what a firm has to hold, not what its hazards are, so nothing below explains the counts on this page. It is the regime the records were written under.

19 September 2016

Preventive controls apply to large businesses

Businesses with 500 or more full-time equivalent employees had to comply with 21 CFR 117 from this date: a written food safety plan, a hazard analysis, preventive controls with monitoring and verification, and records for all of it. Smaller firms were not yet covered, so a recall in this year may involve a facility that was still operating lawfully under the older GMP rule alone.

FDA, FSMA Final Rule for Preventive Controls for Human Food

What was recalled in 2016

Counts are by the date the FDA reported the enforcement action, which is the field openFDA publishes as report_date rather than the date the firm started the recall. A single recall can name more than one hazard, so these counts overlap and do not sum to 3,011.

Firms with the most records

A firm appears here because it reported recalls, which is what a working recall procedure produces. A high count frequently reflects a single event split across many product codes rather than many separate failures.

Where the recalling firms are

The state is the location of the recalling firm, not where the product was sold. Distribution is recorded separately on each record.

Most recently reported

The 60 most recent of 3,011 records. Every record has its own page and is reachable from its year, state and firm.
Reported	Product	Firm	Reason	Class
2016-12-28	Gourmet Chocolate Dipped Cookies Net Wt. 46 oz UPC 269969414994	Wakefern Food Corp.	Cookies may contain metal pieces.	Class II
2016-12-28	Turkey, Bacon and Swiss on Macaroni Salad wrapped in clear film, 8 oz. Undeclared allergens - Wheat, Soy (oil, flour), Milk, Egg	Crescent Vending Co. Inc.	Crescent vending sandwiches failed to declare allergen ingredients: wheat, soy (oil) and milk.	Class II
2016-12-28	2/1 GL JAR SYSCO IMP. SPRING MIX	Simply Fresh Fruit	Simply Fresh Fruit is recalling cantaloupe and fruit mixes with cantaloupe because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.	Class I
2016-12-28	Product is packaged into a plastic bag and placed into cardboard box. Product is labeled as "N34D SALT-FREE ROASTED SUNFLOWER SEEDS".	Woodland Foods	Sunflower seeds purchased from SunOpta that are potentially contaminated with Listeria.	Class I
2016-12-28	PREMIUM SMOKED SALMON UPC 7 02772 00564 0 Packaged in a 5 lb case 20/4oz vacuum packaged per case. Cardboard type label is folded over and affixed to the top of the package. Sell by date is marked on the label by the consignee.	Northern Fish Products, Inc.	Northern Fish Products is recalling hot smoked salmon, black cod, steelhead, and trout, with the exception of hot jerky salmon and jerky salmon due to undeclared soy.	Class II
2016-12-28	"*PREMIUM SMOKED SALMONCRACKED PEPPER NET WT: 4OZ*Packaged 5 lbs case 20/4oz vacuum packages/case. Cardboard type label is folded over and affixed to the top of the package. Sell by date is marked on the label by the consignee. UPC 7 02772 00560 2.	Northern Fish Products, Inc.	Northern Fish Products is recalling hot smoked salmon, black cod, steelhead, and trout, with the exception of hot jerky salmon and jerky salmon due to undeclared soy.	Class II
2016-12-28	Apple Orchard Crisp Apple Hard Cider Three packages sizes: ¿ Loose case = 24 12 oz bottles ¿ 12 pack = 12 12 oz bottles, shipped as 2 12 packs per case ¿ 4 6 pack = 6 12 oz bottles per pack, shipped as 4 6 packs per case	Samuel Adams Brewery Co	Due to concerns of re-fermentation, bottles may burst under increased pressure.	Class II
2016-12-28	1 GL PAIL SYSCO FRUIT MIX - LS, UPC 47486540223	Simply Fresh Fruit	Simply Fresh Fruit is recalling cantaloupe and fruit mixes with cantaloupe because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.	Class I
2016-12-28	1 GL CVF CANTALOUPE CHUNKS - LS, UPC 50758108449775;	Simply Fresh Fruit	Simply Fresh Fruit is recalling cantaloupe and fruit mixes with cantaloupe because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.	Class I
2016-12-28	WILD CATCH PREMIUM SMOKED SALMON*NATURALNET WT: 4OZ** UPC 7 02772 00559 6. Cardboard type label is folded over and affixed to the top of the package. Sell by date is marked on the label by the consignee.	Northern Fish Products, Inc.	Northern Fish Products is recalling hot smoked salmon, black cod, steelhead, and trout, with the exception of hot jerky salmon and jerky salmon due to undeclared soy.	Class II
2016-12-28	Hot Sicilian- Ham, Pepperoni and Provolone Cheese wrapped in clear film, 5 oz. Undeclared allergens - Wheat, Soy( oil flour), Milk	Crescent Vending Co. Inc.	Crescent vending sandwiches failed to declare allergen ingredients: wheat, soy (oil) and milk.	Class II
2016-12-28	Raisin Bagel with Cream Cheese wrapped in clear film, 5 oz. Undeclared allergens - Wheat, Soy (oil), and Milk	Crescent Vending Co. Inc.	Crescent vending sandwiches failed to declare allergen ingredients: wheat, soy (oil) and milk.	Class II
2016-12-28	1 GL PAIL SYSCO CANTALOUPE CHUNKS - LS, UPC 7486548718	Simply Fresh Fruit	Simply Fresh Fruit is recalling cantaloupe and fruit mixes with cantaloupe because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.	Class I
2016-12-28	1 GL PAIL SYSCO IMP. CANTALOUPE/GRAPE JUICE, UPC 7486562450	Simply Fresh Fruit	Simply Fresh Fruit is recalling cantaloupe and fruit mixes with cantaloupe because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.	Class I
2016-12-28	Preferred Meals, Cook and Serve, Cavatappi Pasta with Mascarpone Tomato Cream Sauce; 54 9.25 OZ units (NET WEIGHT 31.22 LBS) KEEP FROZEN INSTITUTIONAL USE ONLY	Preferred Meal Systems, Inc.	Possible contamination of product with Listeria monocytogenes.	Class II
2016-12-28	CROISSANT 6 PK	Whole Foods Market Brand 365, Llc	Product contains undeclared eggs.	Class II
2016-12-28	Coconut Fudge, brand Real Fudge. Product is sold in clear plastic deli container in 8 oz.	Real Fudge	Coconut Fudge is recalled due to undeclared blue #1.	Class II
2016-12-28	Egg Salad on Wheat wrapped in clear film, 5 oz. Undeclared allergens - Wheat, Soy (oil) and eggs	Crescent Vending Co. Inc.	Crescent vending sandwiches failed to declare allergen ingredients: wheat, soy (oil) and milk.	Class II
2016-12-28	24CT Take&Bake Oatmeal Rasin Cookies Net Wt. 24oz UPC 20873004194	Wakefern Food Corp.	Cookies may contain metal pieces.	Class II
2016-12-28	4 GL PAIL FRUIT MIX-SMALL CUT, UPC 4294710455	Simply Fresh Fruit	Simply Fresh Fruit is recalling cantaloupe and fruit mixes with cantaloupe because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.	Class I
2016-12-28	Hot Sausage on Club wrapped in clear film, 6 oz. Undeclared allergens - Wheat, Soy (oil)	Crescent Vending Co. Inc.	Crescent vending sandwiches failed to declare allergen ingredients: wheat, soy (oil) and milk.	Class II
2016-12-28	Ben & Jerrys Brownie Batter Core Ice Cream One Pint (473 mL). Case UPC- 10076840529879 Consumer UPC - 7684052987 Paper carton 8 units per shrink-wrapped case Frozen	Unilever United States, Inc.	Certain pints of Ben & Jerrys Brownie Batter Core Ice Cream may contain soft plastic pieces.	Class II
2016-12-28	Plain Fudge, brand Real Fudge. Product is sold in clear plastic deli container in 8, 12,16, and 24 oz.	Real Fudge	Plain Fudge is recalled due to undeclared blue #1.	Class II
2016-12-28	24CT Take&Bake Sugar Cookies Net Wt. 24oz UPC 208906004195	Wakefern Food Corp.	Cookies may contain metal pieces.	Class II
2016-12-28	24CT Oatmeal Raisin Cookies Net Wt. 24oz UPC 208710004190	Wakefern Food Corp.	Cookies may contain metal pieces.	Class II
2016-12-28	White Fudge Oreo, brand Real Fudge. Product is sold in clear plastic deli container in 8 oz. and 16 oz.	Real Fudge	White Fudge Oreo is recalled due to undeclared wheat and blue # 1.	Class II
2016-12-28	12 Gourmet Variety Pack Cookies - Net Wt. 15 oz UPC 289786003997 Gourmet Variety Pack Cookies Net Wt. 30 oz UPC 289772006995	Wakefern Food Corp.	Cookies may contain metal pieces.	Class II
2016-12-28	2 GL PAIL SYSCO IMP. FRUIT MIX W/GRAPE JUICE, UPC 7486563430	Simply Fresh Fruit	Simply Fresh Fruit is recalling cantaloupe and fruit mixes with cantaloupe because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.	Class I
2016-12-28	24CT Chocolate Chip Cookies Net Wt. 24oz UPC 208707004198	Wakefern Food Corp.	Cookies may contain metal pieces.	Class II
2016-12-28	Ham and Cheese on Club wrapped in clear film, 5 oz. Undeclared allergens - Wheat, Soy (oil, lecithin), Milk	Crescent Vending Co. Inc.	Crescent vending sandwiches failed to declare allergen ingredients: wheat, soy (oil) and milk.	Class II
2016-12-28	Kippered Salmon Tips Product of USA Packed By Northern Fish Products***" Packaged in bulk 5lb case.	Northern Fish Products, Inc.	Northern Fish Products is recalling hot smoked salmon, black cod, steelhead, and trout, with the exception of hot jerky salmon and jerky salmon due to undeclared soy.	Class II
2016-12-28	1 GL JAR SFF CANTALOUPE CHUNKS - Light Syrup, UPC 4294700119	Simply Fresh Fruit	Simply Fresh Fruit is recalling cantaloupe and fruit mixes with cantaloupe because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.	Class I
2016-12-28	1 GL PAIL SFF CANTALOUPE DICED 1", UPC 4210119	Simply Fresh Fruit	Simply Fresh Fruit is recalling cantaloupe and fruit mixes with cantaloupe because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.	Class I
2016-12-28	Qiejidingxiangyu, USA jiazhoufengwei, Fish, NET WT 4.2oz (120g)	Midwest International Corp	The product is a low acid canned food (LACF) without a registered manufacturer and scheduled process.	Class II
2016-12-28	Malayuguo, USA jiazhoufengwei, Fish, NET WT 4.2oz (120g)	Midwest International Corp	The product is a low acid canned food (LACF) without a registered manufacturer and scheduled process.	Class II
2016-12-28	Salisbury Steak with Gravy on Kaiser with whipped potatoes wrapped in clear film, 8 oz. Undeclared allergens - Wheat, Soy (oil, flour), Milk	Crescent Vending Co. Inc.	Crescent vending sandwiches failed to declare allergen ingredients: wheat, soy (oil) and milk.	Class II
2016-12-28	Product is packaged into a plastic bag and placed into cardboard box. Product is labeled as "DI BRUNO BROS ROASTED & SALTED SUNFLOWER E SEEDS".	Woodland Foods	Sunflower seeds purchased from SunOpta that are potentially contaminated with Listeria.	Class I
2016-12-28	24CT Sugar Cookies Net Wt. 24oz UPC 208719004191	Wakefern Food Corp.	Cookies may contain metal pieces.	Class II
2016-12-28	DRIED VEGETABLE, NET WT: 17.6oz (500g)	Midwest International Corp	The product is an acidified food without a registered manufacturer and scheduled process	Class II
2016-12-28	Sweet & Spicy Style Atlantic Salmon, Product of USA Packed By Northern Fish Products***" Packaged in bulk 5lb case.	Northern Fish Products, Inc.	Northern Fish Products is recalling hot smoked salmon, black cod, steelhead, and trout, with the exception of hot jerky salmon and jerky salmon due to undeclared soy.	Class II
2016-12-28	White Fudge, brand Real Fudge. Product is sold in clear plastic deli container in 8 oz.	Real Fudge	White Fudge is recalled due to undeclared blue #1.	Class II
2016-12-28	4 GL PAIL SFF CANTALOUPE CHUNKS, UPC 4294710419; 4/1 GL Case Cantaloupe Chunks UPC 4294740119	Simply Fresh Fruit	Simply Fresh Fruit is recalling cantaloupe and fruit mixes with cantaloupe because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.	Class I
2016-12-28	Cheeseburger wrapped in clear film, 5 oz. Undeclared Allergens - Wheat, Soy (Lecithin, oil, flour), Milk,	Crescent Vending Co. Inc.	Crescent vending sandwiches failed to declare allergen ingredients: wheat, soy (oil) and milk.	Class II
2016-12-28	Brownwood Farms Apple Riesling Salsa. 21oz glass bottles and 1 gallon. Private labels: Arbor Day Farm (Apple Riesling Salsa 21oz). Kimmel Orchard & Vineyard (Apple Riesling Salsa 21oz). St. Julian Winery (Apple Riesling Salsa 19oz).	Brownwood Farms	Products contain yellow#5 ingredients not declared on the label.	Class II
2016-12-28	Imported Ham with Potato salad wrapped in clear film, 8 oz. Undeclared allergens - Wheat, Soy (oil), Milk, Egg	Crescent Vending Co. Inc.	Crescent vending sandwiches failed to declare allergen ingredients: wheat, soy (oil) and milk.	Class II
2016-12-28	Rocky Road Fudge, brand Real Fudge. Product is sold in clear plastic deli container in 8, 12, and 16 oz.	Real Fudge	Rocky Road Fudge is recalled due to undeclared blue #1.	Class II
2016-12-28	4/1 GL SYSCO IMP FRUIT MIX, UPC 10074865435236	Simply Fresh Fruit	Simply Fresh Fruit is recalling cantaloupe and fruit mixes with cantaloupe because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.	Class I
2016-12-28	24CT Double Chocolate Cookies Net Wt. 24oz UPC 208722004195	Wakefern Food Corp.	Cookies may contain metal pieces.	Class II
2016-12-28	Chicken Salad on Kaiser Roll, 5 oz. Undeclared allergens - Wheat, Soy (oil, flour)	Crescent Vending Co. Inc.	Crescent vending sandwiches failed to declare allergen ingredients: wheat, soy (oil) and milk.	Class II
2016-12-28	12 pack Gourmet Oatmeal Raisin Cookies Net Wt 15 oz. UPC 289784203993 24 pack Gourmet Oatmeal Raisin Cookies Net Wt. 30 oz. UPC 289774706992 Gourmet Oatmeal/Raisin Cookies Net Wt. 30 oz UPC 289771006996	Wakefern Food Corp.	Cookies may contain metal pieces.	Class II
2016-12-28	Brownwood Farms BBQ Mustard Glaze. 11oz glass bottles and 1 gallon. Private labels: Kimmel Orchard & Vineyard (Barbeque Mustard 11oz)	Brownwood Farms	Products contain soy ingredients not declared on the label.	Class II
2016-12-28	Preferred Meals, Cook and Serve, Creamy Red Pepper Sauce and Cheese Tortellini with Parmesan Cheese, 54 9.25 OZ units (NET WEIGHT 31.22 LBS) KEEP FROZEN INSTITUTIONAL USE ONLY	Preferred Meal Systems, Inc.	Possible contamination of product with Listeria monocytogenes.	Class II
2016-12-28	Rx CHOICE brand LIQUID VITAMIN C, 16 FL OZ (473 mL), NDC 50383-167-16 --- HI-TECH PHARMACAL CO., INC. Amityville, NY 11701	Hi-Tech Pharmacal Co., Inc.	Out-of-specification results for pH.	Class III
2016-12-28	MTR MASALA Sambar Powder, Net Quantity: 200g	Shri Shiva Foods Inc	The firm distributed a product prior to FDA release for an article which appears to contain Salmonella and was Subject to Import Alert #99-19	Class I
2016-12-28	2 GL, 1 GL PAIL SFF CANT/CHUNKS GRAPE JUICE, UPC 4294717119	Simply Fresh Fruit	Simply Fresh Fruit is recalling cantaloupe and fruit mixes with cantaloupe because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.	Class I
2016-12-28	Vegetable and dip, 6 oz. Undeclared allergens - Soy( oil), Milk	Crescent Vending Co. Inc.	Crescent vending sandwiches failed to declare allergen ingredients: wheat, soy (oil) and milk.	Class II
2016-12-28	Regular Hoagie on Italian Roll, wrapped in clear film, 7 oz. Undeclared allergens - Wheat, Soy (oil), Milk	Crescent Vending Co. Inc.	Crescent vending sandwiches failed to declare allergen ingredients: wheat, soy (oil) and milk.	Class II
2016-12-28	Product is packaged into a plastic bag and placed into cardboard box. Product is labeled as "D'ALLESANDRO ROASTED SALTED SUNFLOWER SEEDS ". Product was packaged into 5 lb boxes.	Woodland Foods	Sunflower seeds purchased from SunOpta that are potentially contaminated with Listeria.	Class I
2016-12-28	Benton's Peanut Butter filled Cookies covered in Rich Fudge, NET WT 9.5 OZ (269 g), UPC 041 498 1896 55, Distributed by ALDI INC. Great Value, Fudge Covered Peanut Butter, 269 g, Imported for Wal-Mart Canada Corp, Product of USA, UPC 6 28915 24342 0.	Interbake Foods	A single lot code of peanut butter used by the firm contained elevated aflatoxin levels	Class II
2016-12-28	Smoked Trout Rainbow Trout, NORTHERN FISH PRODUCTS, INC.***" Packaged in bulk 10lb case.	Northern Fish Products, Inc.	Northern Fish Products is recalling hot smoked salmon, black cod, steelhead, and trout, with the exception of hot jerky salmon and jerky salmon due to undeclared soy.	Class II

Questions

How many food recalls were there in 2016?: The FDA reported 3,011 food recall enforcement actions in 2016, of which 1,337 were Class I, 1,362 Class II and 312 Class III. That is 6% more than the 2,834 reported in 2015.
What caused the most food recalls in 2016?: Undeclared allergens appears in 730 of the 3,011 recalls reported in 2016, followed by listeria monocytogenes with 688. A single recall can name more than one hazard, so these counts overlap.

All FDA food recall data

Every hazard in this year is a clause somebody had to evidence at an audit. Krolda maps supplier documents to the clause they satisfy in FSSC 22000, IFS Food and 21 CFR 117, and routes the corrective action when the evidence is missing.

Early access

Recall records come from the openFDA food enforcement API, published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in the public domain. Krolda adds the hazard classification and the clause mapping; neither is an FDA determination. Always check the FDA notice before acting on a recall.