WWL Louisiana’s Mike McDaniel explains how recalls not only make people question whether their food is safe, but also cause unexpected expenses.
NEW ORLEANS — Going to the grocery store can be a little expensive. Items are usually chosen based on cost, not on whether they will make you sick.
“When you go to the grocery store, you assume that everything on the shelf is safe,” said John Shiraz, chief strategy officer at Second Harvest Food Bank.
The latest recall from the USDA is part of a long list of items being pulled from these shelves. Consumers are being warned not to eat anything they may have already purchased, whether it is associated with bacteria or foreign substances.
“If a consumer buys the product, they can return it to the grocery store, but I think most of the time they just throw it away,” Shiraz said.
Shiraz says that can lead to unexpected expenses.
“It’s not so much, ‘I bought that item for $1, now I have to spend $2 on something else.'” It’s more, ‘I have to spend another dollar that I wasn’t planning on spending.’ That’s the thing,” Shiraz said. “It’s a recall challenge among people who are living on the edge, so to speak.”
If more affordable foods, like some of the Great Value brands, end up on the recall list, that margin could get even closer. Waffles, deli meats, eggs, and even McDonald’s Quarter Pounders have recently been recalled due to links to bacteria.
“Our food supply chain is becoming increasingly complex, with the potential for contamination at every step of food processing,” said Dr. Celine Gounder, public health editor at KFF Health News.
Gounder said on CBS Morning that high demand for ready-to-eat foods and improved testing are big reasons why the recall list is so long.
Shiraz said it’s important for people looking to buy essentials to do a little research beforehand and not be afraid to ask for help.
“They need food to feed themselves, to feed their families. It’s very important and we’re willing to step up and help them,” Shiraz said. .
Here is a list of food products recalled by the USDA:
FSIS Recall 028-2024 Labels and Product Listing
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