A new analysis has revealed the most common reasons for food recalls in the United States.

Research by regulatory firm Traceone has identified the leading causes of food recalls conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) over the past four years. Each year, hundreds of food products are recalled by health authorities when manufacturers violate federal regulations that could result in dangers to the American consumer.

Traceone found that the most common reasons for food recalls are unintended allergens in products and contamination with harmful bacteria or viruses. According to Traceone, allergen contamination was responsible for nearly 40 percent of recalls issued by both government agencies between 2020 and 2024.

The nine major allergens – peanuts, wheat, milk, tree nuts, soy, eggs, crustaceans, fish and sesame – must be clearly labelled on all products by law to help people avoid foods that can trigger allergic reactions.

Bacterial contamination, such as recalls due to the presence of Salmonella, E. coli and Listeria, is the second most common reason for recalls, accounting for 21 percent of recalls.

“Foodborne illnesses can be very serious – even fatal,” said Lisa R. Robinson, vice president of global food safety and public health at Ecolab, Newsweek“The challenge is that the pathogens responsible for foodborne illness are all naturally occurring. For example, Salmonella and E. coli are found in the gut microbiome of chickens and cattle. Cronobacter and Listeria are even more common – they are found in soil and fields and can therefore be easily transmitted from one environment to another.”

Other reasons for product recalls may be the presence of foreign bodies such as small plastic or metal parts, which were responsible for 11.6 percent of recalls between 2020 and 2024. Incorrect labeling is also relatively common.

Lead, which is particularly dangerous, accounted for 1.7 percent of the recalls. Earlier this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a comprehensive warning because lead was found in certain spices as well as other products intended for children, including toys and clothing.

Lead is especially dangerous for children because their bodies absorb more lead and their brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to its harmful effects. If the lead levels in a child’s body are higher than normal, it can lead to behavioral and learning problems, lower IQ, hyperactivity, slowed growth, hearing problems, and anemia.

Traceone also noted that the number of recalls per year increased from 454 to 547 between 2020 and 2023, an increase of more than 20 percent. The company expects the total number of recalls in 2024 to be “about the same” as in 2023.