Category Intelligence

Ingredient Category Risk Leaderboard

12 CPG ingredient categories ranked by recall activity. Updated weekly from FDA, USDA FSIS, and CFIA data.

3
Active Risk Categories
5
Elevated Risk
12
Categories Tracked
12 categories
CategoryRisk Stage90-DayChangeTop Hazard

Produce — Leafy Greens

Romaine, spinach, mixed greens. Consistently the highest-risk produce category due to irrigation water contamination.

Active Risk
15
+2
E. coli O157:H7

Dairy — Soft Cheese

Soft and semi-soft cheese. Highest recall frequency in the dairy category due to Listeria risk in aging environments.

Active Risk
12
+5
Listeria monocytogenes

Ready-to-Eat — Deli Salads

Pre-made salads, pasta salads, and deli sides. Listeria risk from post-process contamination in cold environments.

Active Risk
10
+3
Listeria monocytogenes

Dry Goods — Spices

Ground and whole spices. Salmonella is endemic in the supply chain. Import refusal rates are rising.

Elevated
11
+4
Salmonella

Protein — Poultry

Chicken, turkey, and duck products. USDA FSIS-regulated. Salmonella and Listeria in RTE products.

Elevated
9
0
Salmonella

Dairy — Fluid Milk

Fluid milk and cream products. High-volume category with consistent Listeria and allergen exposure.

Elevated
8
+3
Listeria monocytogenes

Produce — Fresh Herbs

Fresh cilantro, basil, parsley, and other herbs. Salmonella and E. coli risk from irrigation water and handling.

Elevated
7
+2
Salmonella

Dry Goods — Nut Butters

Peanut butter, almond butter, and other nut spreads. Salmonella risk from roasting process failures.

Elevated
6
+1
Salmonella

Protein — Ground Beef

Ground beef and beef patties. USDA FSIS-regulated. E. coli O157:H7 is the primary Class I risk.

Watch
5
-2
E. coli O157:H7

Protein — Seafood (Finfish)

Fresh and frozen finfish. Allergen mislabeling and histamine (scombrotoxin) are the primary recall drivers.

Watch
5
+1
Undeclared allergen

Produce — Melons

Cantaloupe, honeydew, and watermelon. Salmonella and Listeria risk from rind contamination during cutting.

Watch
4
-1
Salmonella

Eggs — Shell Eggs

Shell eggs and liquid egg products. Salmonella Enteritidis is the primary risk, linked to flock contamination.

Watch
3
0
Salmonella Enteritidis

About This Leaderboard

This leaderboard ranks 12 major CPG ingredient categories by recall activity over the last 90 days, sourced from the FDA Food Enforcement database, USDA FSIS recall records, and CFIA recall notices. Risk stages are calculated using RecallScout's scoring methodology, which weights recall frequency, classification severity (Class I/II/III), and recency.

Categories are updated weekly. The "Change vs Prior" column compares recall counts in the current 90-day window against the prior 90-day window. A rising trend does not necessarily indicate a crisis — it may reflect increased regulatory activity or seasonal patterns.

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