Why do food recalls often happen after products reach consumers?

Food recalls frequently occur after products have reached consumers primarily because post-market surveillance may uncover issues that were not identified during the production phase. Once a product is in the market, various monitoring mechanisms, such as consumer reports, testing results, and inspections, can reveal safety concerns or contamination that were not detected before the product was distributed.

For example, after a food item is sold, consumers might report adverse effects or find foreign objects in the food, prompting further investigation. Regulatory agencies and manufacturers may also conduct ongoing safety monitoring that can identify latent problems, leading to a recall to protect public health. This highlights the importance of effective post-market surveillance systems in ensuring food safety and instilling confidence in the food supply.