Part 2: Contamination and Recalls Are Getting Worse. Here’s What the Data Shows.
While spoilage quietly erodes food across fields and supply chains, a second crisis unfolds in public view: contamination events and food recalls are increasing in frequency — and, more alarmingly, in severity. This is the second installment in our series on the global food waste crisis.
The Contamination Crisis: A $75 Billion Problem in the U.S. Alone
Foodborne contamination is not a fringe issue. It hits the most trusted brands, the most everyday foods, and the most vulnerable consumers. The economic and public health costs are enormous:
- $74.7 billion — the estimated annual cost of foodborne illness in the U.S. in medical expenses and lost productivity (USDA Economic Research Service, 2023 dollars)
- $17.1 billion of that total is attributable to Salmonella alone — the single costliest pathogen in the U.S. food system (National Library of Medicine / SC Training)
- 48 million illnesses are caused by foodborne pathogens in the U.S. annually (ONZA Corp. / CDC)
- Unsafe food can cause over 200 different diseases, with children and the elderly at greatest risk (WHO / SC Training)
The pathogens at the center of most contamination events are well-established: Listeria, Salmonella, and E. coli. They are found routinely in deli meats, cucumbers, leafy greens, berries, eggs, cinnamon, and frozen waffles — everyday staples purchased by millions of families.
The Recall Crisis: Frequency Is Up, Severity Is Surging
Volume of Recalls
- 296 food recall announcements issued in the U.S. in 2024 (U.S. PIRG Education Fund, Food for Thought 2025)
- 740+ food and beverage recalls tracked by the FDA in 2024 — double 2023’s total of 313, and on pace to triple 2022’s total of 289 (Food Logistics / Aon, 2024)
- U.S. food recalls increased 20% between 2020 and 2023 (Trace One / Food Safety Magazine, 2024)
- USDA meat and poultry recalls increased 31% in 2023 compared to 2022 (U.S. PIRG Education Fund)
Severity of Recalls
- Deaths more than doubled between 2023 and 2024: from 8 deaths to 19 (FSNS, 2025)
- Total illnesses from recalled foods rose to 1,392 in 2024, up from 1,118 in 2023 (U.S. PIRG Education Fund)
- 98% of all foodborne illnesses in 2024 came from just 13 outbreaks (U.S. PIRG Education Fund)
What’s Causing Recalls
- Undeclared allergens: 34% of all recalls — 101 recalls in 2024 alone (FSNS) ● Pathogens (Listeria, Salmonella, E. coli): 39% of all recalls (FSNS)
- Bacterial contamination: 21.1% of cases (Trace One / Food Safety Magazine)
- Foreign object contamination (metal, plastic, glass): 11.6% of cases (Trace One)
- Lead contamination: 13 recalls in 2024 — a sharp increase, driven in part by lead-adulterated cinnamon in children’s applesauce (FSNS)
Recent High-Profile Cases
- Boar’s Head deli meats: 61 illnesses, 10 deaths (Listeria)
- Cucumbers: 551 illnesses, 155 hospitalizations (Salmonella)
- McDonald’s Quarter Pounders (onions): 104 illnesses, 1 death (E. coli)
- Lead-tainted applesauce pouches: 500+ children sickened nationwide
- Cantaloupe (Salmonella): 400 illnesses, 6 deaths
Source: U.S. PIRG Education Fund “Food for Thought 2025”; FSNS 2025
The Systemic Gap: Recalls Come Too Late
- Weeks, months, or even years can pass between when contaminated food enters the supply chain and when it is identified and recalled (U.S. PIRG Education Fund)
- Regulators cannot mandate recalls — they must be voluntary, slowing the response when brands are reluctant to act (U.S. PIRG Education Fund)
- ~1,600 people contract Listeriosis annually in the U.S. — and roughly 260 die — yet most foodborne illnesses are never traced back to a specific source (CDC / U.S. PIRG)
How FreshSure Can Help
The contamination crisis is driven by the same biological actors — Listeria, Salmonella, E. coli — that surface again and again in recall reports. FreshSure, ONZA Corp.’s patented crystallized ozone sachet, is specifically designed to neutralize these pathogens at the point of packaging, before contamination can escalate into a recall. Ozone is FDA and USDA approved and certified organic — a food-safe, residue-free solution that works continuously without chemicals or additives.
- KILLS E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria — the three pathogens responsible for the majority of serious foodborne illness outbreaks and the most lethal recalls in recent years.
- INHIBITS mold and spoilage organisms, reducing the conditions that allow pathogens to multiply during distribution and shelf storage.
- WORKS PASSIVELY AND CONTINUOUSLY — no activation required, no operational complexity added at the producer or retailer level.
- FITS EXISTING PACKAGING FORMATS — small (2.5″ x 3″), medium (4″ x 4″), and large (3″ x 6″) sachets designed from field-to-distribution through store-to-table.
Consumer research with 700+ participants confirmed that a strong majority of packaged salad buyers preferred FreshSure-containing products — and over 60% said they would switch brands to get it.
Part 1 of this series examines how spoilage and post-harvest losses drain the global food supply from field to distribution.
Sources: USDA Economic Research Service; U.S. PIRG Education Fund “Food for Thought 2024 and 2025”; Food Safety News Service (FSNS); FDA; USDA FSIS; Trace One / Food Safety Magazine (2024); SC Training / National Library of Medicine; Food Logistics / Aon (2024); CDC.
