Food recalls in Sweden – Causes, patterns, and opportunities for improvement
Project overview
Participants
More related research
Global goals
- 2. Zero hunger
- 3. Good health and well-being
- 12. Responsible consumption and production
Short summary
The overall objective of the project is to produce reliable data on why food is recalled in Sweden and identify weak points in the control chain. The results can form the basis for targeted measures that strengthen food safety and reduce the need for future recalls.
Background
When food products sold in Sweden are suspected of posing a health risk, companies are required to recall them from the market. Both companies and national control authorities must report suspected health risks related to food. The Swedish reporting system is linked to the EU’s Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), which enables member states to quickly share information about food and feed that may be unsafe.
In 2023, 63 recalls were published on the Swedish Food Agency’s website, while Swedish authorities sent around 90 notifications through the RASFF system to other EU countries.
Although recall data are compiled at the EU level, there is no corresponding national overview for Sweden. This means there is limited knowledge about which foods are recalled, the underlying reasons, and where in the food chain these recalls occur within the country. Previous international studies show that recalls are often caused by bacterial contamination, allergens, chemicals, or foreign objects.
The lack of detailed information about Sweden’s recall situation makes it difficult to target advice and preventive actions to the parts of the food chain that need them most.
About this project
The main goal of the project is to generate reliable data on why foods are recalled in Sweden and to identify weak points in the control chain. By analysing patterns and causes of recalls, we aim to provide evidence for more effective food control measures, reducing the risk of unsafe food reaching consumers.
The project will determine the proportion of recalls linked to actual food safety risks, identify where in the chain recalls occur, and explore how companies and authorities make their decisions.
The results will serve as a basis for targeted actions that strengthen food safety and reduce the need for future recalls.
Collaborations
In addition to the participants from SLU, the project group also includes the following:
- Joakim Meuller Bäckman. Swedish Food Agency
- Magnus Bergström och Rikard Hellqvist, Bergström & Hellqvist AB