Statistics

MAF Food Safety coordinates and monitors food recalls only within New Zealand.

MAF Food Safety has been collecting data since 2001. This data only includes food recalls (ie removal of unsafe food from the distribution chain and extends to food sold to consumers) as opposed to the situation where a withdrawal (ie the removal of an unsafe foodstuff from the distribution chain but does not extend to food sold to the consumer) has taken place.

The information also includes recalls of imported foods as well as food produced in New Zealand.

Figure 1: The Total Number of Food Recalls conducted each year from 2001 to June 2009

Why do we collect food recall data?

Data collected on food recalls can be used to identify common trends and problems occurring in the food industry as well as informing food businesses which hazards are occurring most frequently.

Table 1: Breakdown figures for Causes of Recalls from 2001 to June 2009

Table 1 not only shows the breakdown figures for the major causes of food recalls but also the total number of recalls as well. Note that since December 2002, when mandatory-warning statements on labels for food allergens was introduced, we saw a major increase in the number of recalls of this nature.