As we look back on 2015, we see that allergens continue to upset the meat industry. Last year alone, there were more than 50 recalls of meat products for the presence of undeclared allergens. When asked to comment about this trend at a recent food-safety conference (the numbers of recalls have been increasing annually), USDA Deputy Undersecretary for Food Safety Al Almanza simply shook his head, in sincere bewilderment, questioning why all these recalls are happening — because “avoiding undeclared allergens is a simple fix.”
Nearly three years ago, USDA warned the meat industry it would begin intensifying its focus on allergen control. This is because allergens are increasingly posing a significant health concern to consumers. According to USDA, as many as four in 100 children are affected by some type of allergy. And, in many of these cases, the allergic reactions they suffer can be very serious or fatal. The food ingredients that cause the vast majority of allergic reactions include milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and soybeans.