Food recalls in the first half of 2025

US

Japan

In the first half of 2025, Japan recorded 303 cases of imported food recalls, reflecting the country's stringent control over food quality and safety. These incidents span across various hazard categories, exporting countries, and violation types, indicating a rising trend of potential risks within the global food supply chain.

Statistics show that China had the highest number of recalls with 88 cases, accounting for approximately 29% of the total. The United States followed with 44 cases, and Vietnam with 26 cases. Other countries with notable recall counts include India, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Italy—all major exporters of food to Japan, particularly in categories such as nuts, seafood, frozen vegetables, and processed foods.

The recalled cases were categorized into six main hazard groups, with chemical hazards accounting for the largest proportion:

• Contaminants: 74 cases
• Pesticide Residues: 65 cases
• Food Additives: 58 cases
• Microbiological Hazards: 56 cases
• Other Violations: 21 cases
• Antibiotic Residues: 7 cases

Detailed Breakdown of Hazards

1. Chemical Contaminants – 74 cases

• This category represents the second-highest number of recalls. Affected products were primarily dry nuts such as peanuts, almonds, pistachios, along with spices and grains.
  • Aflatoxins were the most frequently detected contaminants, found in over 90% of cases in this category. Excessive levels were identified in shipments from China, the USA, Brazil.
  • Cyanide was detected in several cereal and packaged food products.
  • A single but concerning case involved the detection of radioactive material in chocolate imported from Lithuania.
• These recalls highlight the risks posed by chemical contamination in raw materials and manufacturing processes, especially from countries with complex supply chains.

2. Microbiological Hazards – 78 cases

• This was the most frequently reported hazard group, accounting for 78 recalls, underscoring the severity of microbiological violations in exported food.
  • Live bacterial counts, Coliforms, and E. coli were the primary causes, particularly in products such as shrimp, squid, frozen vegetables, and packaged foods from China, Vietnam, Taiwan, and Indonesia.
  • Mold growth during storage was also common, especially in rice, wheat, and peanuts from Thailand, the U.S., and Australia.
  • Severe cases included Listeria monocytogenes found in cheese and cold cuts imported from Europe.
• These violations suggest cross-contamination risks during production and storage, especially in frozen and ready-to-eat products.

3. Pesticide Residues – 65 cases

• Food products with pesticide residues accounted for approximately 22% of total recalls. Numerous active substances were found exceeding safety thresholds as defined by Japan’s Food Sanitation Act.
  • Commonly detected substances included 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (12 cases), procymidone (7), chlorpyrifos (6), and other notable compounds such as carbaryl, permethrin, hexaconazole, and mepiquat-chloride.
  • Affected products were mainly vegetables, tea, spices, and cacao from China, India, Ecuador, Mozambique, and Vietnam.
  • Some residues were within non-harmful levels but still violated Japan’s maximum residue limits (MRLs), leading to recalls.
• These findings indicate insufficient residue control at the source, particularly for products from Asia and South America.

4. Food Additives – 58 cases

• Violations involving food additives made up 19% of total recalls, with many cases involving unauthorized or excessive use of additives.
  • Frequently recalled substances included sulfur dioxide, sorbic acid, cyclamic acid, TBHQ, and polysorbate 80.
  • Common violations included: use of non-designated additives, use in non-target food categories, and exceeding permitted levels.
  • Affected products included beverages, confectionery, seasonings, packaged foods, and flavored alcoholic drinks.
• These recalls emphasize the need for exporters to thoroughly review approved additive lists and conduct precise dosage checks before shipment.

5. Antibiotics – 7 cases

• Although the smallest category, antibiotic residues remain a critical concern, especially in aquatic products.
  • Detected substances included doxycycline, enrofloxacin, and furazolidone—all of which are toxic and require strict regulation.
  • Commonly affected products were shrimp and frozen frog legs, primarily from Vietnam and India.
• Despite the low frequency, these hazards require close monitoring due to the risk of antibiotic accumulation in the food chain.

6. Other Violations – 21 cases

• This group includes a wide range of violations, reflecting systemic issues in product quality management and documentation.
  • Common issues included physical damage, foreign matter contamination, non-compliance with material standards, packaging errors, and improper storage conditions.
  • Some cases involved unauthorized genetically modified organisms (GMOs), solvent use, and excessive volatile residues.
• Affected products included functional foods, packaged goods, and food processing equipment.

RECALLS INVOLVING VIETNAMESE-ORIGIN PRODUCTS

In the first half of 2025, Japan recorded 26 food recalls involving products originating from Vietnam, highlighting challenges in quality and safety control within Vietnam’s export supply chain to Japan.

Common Hazard Types

• Microbiological Hazards were the most prevalent, with violations involving Coliforms and E. coli, mainly found in frozen products such as sushi, seafood, and fruit.
• Antibiotics: Doxycycline and enrofloxacin were detected in shipments of shrimp and frozen frog legs.
• Pesticide Residues: Products such as fresh carrots, frozen red bell peppers, and bananas were found to contain hexaconazole, acetamiprid, etoxazole, and cyproconazole above permitted levels.
• Food Additives: Instant noodle products were found to contain acesulfame potassium exceeding allowable limits in seasoning packets. One snack product was found to contain cyclamic acid, a non-designated additive.

The recalled products were imported by various companies, primarily seafood importers. Most shipments were subject to complete disposal or return orders, reflecting the seriousness of the violations.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

A total of 303 food recall cases in Japan during the first half of 2025 underscores the country's increasingly stringent oversight of imported food quality. Notably, major exporting countries such as China, the United States, and Vietnam ranked among those with the highest number of recalls, highlighting the urgent need to strengthen quality control capabilities at the source. With 26 recall cases, Vietnam must pay particular attention to high-risk product categories such as seafood, frozen foods, and processed foods—which are key export strengths but also carry elevated safety risks.

To mitigate risks and maintain credibility in the Japanese market, exporting enterprises are advised to:

• Strengthen raw material control: Enhance supplier audits and inspections, especially for ingredients prone to mycotoxin contamination and pesticide residues.
• Improve manufacturing processes: Review and upgrade hygiene protocols, disinfection procedures, temperature control, and packaging standards to reduce microbiological risks and other violations.
• Stay updated on Japanese regulations, particularly regarding maximum residue limits (MRLs) and the list of prohibited substances.
• Establish robust traceability systems to support inspection and corrective actions in the event of non-compliance.

Proactively enhancing quality control capabilities not only reduces the likelihood of recalls but also contributes to building a reputation for safe, reliable, and sustainable exports, reinforcing the image of the exporting country in the eyes of Japanese consumers.

Korea

In the context of globalized food supply chains, ensuring food safety and quality has become an increasingly complex challenge for importing countries, including Vietnam. In South Korea, during the first half of 2025, the national food quarantine authority recorded 71 recall cases involving imported food products from Vietnam. These recalls span a wide range of product categories and hazard types, reflecting systemic issues in production, processing, and regulatory compliance.

Table 1. Number of Recalls by Hazard Category

The distribution of hazard types is relatively balanced, with microbiological hazards and pesticide residues accounting for the highest number of recalls. Although the remaining categories- food additives, antibiotics, and other violations - have fewer cases, they still pose significant risks to consumer health and safety.

Detailed Breakdown by Hazard Category

1. Microbiological Hazards

• Microbiological contamination was the most frequently reported hazard, accounting for 17 recall cases - approximately 24% of the total. Affected products ranged from processed seafood and fruit juices to frozen vegetables.
  • Escherichia coli and coliforms were detected at levels exceeding regulatory limits in multiple samples, particularly in dried fish, seasoned squid, and watermelon juice.
  • Around 10 recalls were triggered by bacterial counts exceeding acceptable thresholds. Some samples of juice and frozen fruit showed microbial loads up to 30 times higher than permitted, indicating serious lapses in hygiene and cold chain management.
• These findings highlight inconsistencies in production and storage practices, especially for products requiring strict temperature control and sanitation protocols.

2. Pesticide Residues

• Pesticide-related violations also accounted for 17 recalls, underscoring ongoing concerns about agricultural chemical use in exported produce.
  • Active ingredients such as Tricyclazole, Propamocarb, Acetamiprid, Chlorpyrifos, Cypermethrin, and Hexaconazole were found in excess across various fruits and vegetables, including carrots, pumpkins, mangoes, bell peppers, longans, and lychees.
  • Some cases involved extreme exceedances: Tricyclazole in frozen red bell peppers was found at levels 22 times the legal limit, while Propamocarb in pumpkin exceeded the threshold by 11 times.
• These violations suggest non-compliance with regulations on dosage, pre-harvest intervals, and approved substances, raising concerns about agricultural practices and oversight in exporting countries.

3. Food Additives

• Food additives were the second most common hazard group, with 13 recalls. Violations primarily involved the use of unauthorized tar colors, excessive preservatives, and undeclared ingredients.
  • Dried fruits such as mango, pineapple, papaya, and passion fruit were found to contain banned tar pigments including Food Color Yellow No. 4, Red No. 40, and Red No. 102.
  • Two instant noodle products (chicken and beef flavor) were recalled due to the presence of Sorbic acid, a preservative not permitted in these formulations.
  • Two products - dried ginger and frozen mango - exceeded the allowable limit for Sulfur dioxide, with one ginger sample reaching 2851 ppm, far above the 30 ppm threshold.
  • A milk tea chewy candy was found to contain Azorubin, a prohibited tar color.
• These cases reflect inadequate control over ingredient sourcing and formulation, as well as insufficient transparency in product labeling.

4. Antibiotic Residues

• Ten recalls were linked to antibiotic contamination, primarily in aquaculture products such as whiteleg shrimp and snakehead fish.
  • Multiple shrimp samples contained Doxycycline at concentrations 2 to 17 times higher than the legal limit.
  • AOZ, a metabolite of the banned antibiotic Furazolidone, was detected in several shrimp products.
  • Dried and filleted snakehead fish samples were found to contain Ofloxacin (a prohibited substance), along with excessive levels of Trimethoprim and Sulphadiazine.
• These findings indicate that the use of veterinary drugs in aquaculture remains poorly regulated, posing risks to public health and undermining consumer confidence.

5. Other Violations

• The “Other” category accounted for 14 recalls, encompassing a wide range of issues from labeling errors to non-compliance with technical standards:
  • Unauthorized GM were detected in frozen mixed fruit products.
  • Some items failed to meet compositional standards, such as honey adulterated with paraffin and fish sauce with insufficient total nitrogen content.
  • Tableware products exceeded the permissible limit for Potassium permanganate consumption by up to 70 times.
  • Several shipments were found to contain undeclared or misrepresented ingredients, inconsistent with import declarations.
• These cases reflect broader systemic issues in traceability, documentation, and regulatory compliance across the supply chain.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The overall picture of food recalls in South Korea during the first half of 2025 reveals a concerning trend: products imported from Vietnam continue to face significant challenges in meeting increasingly stringent quarantine and safety standards. Violations are not confined to a single product type or hazard category, but span across multiple sectors - indicating that the problem lies not in isolated incidents, but in the integrity of the entire supply chain.

To enhance competitiveness and ensure sustainable export practices, Vietnamese enterprises must take decisive and proactive measures:

• Strengthen quality control at the source: Invest in robust internal testing systems, particularly for microbiological indicators, pesticide residues, additives, and antibiotics. Routine testing not only helps detect risks early but also demonstrates a commitment to quality.
• Standardize production and storage processes: From harvesting and processing to packaging, all stages must comply with the standards of the destination market. For frozen products, maintaining cold chain integrity and hygiene is critical to prevent cross-contamination and microbial growth.
• Ensure transparency in product information: Accurate and complete labeling is essential. Ingredient lists, origin, additives, and allergens must be clearly declared to avoid common errors such as omissions or misrepresentations.
• Stay updated on import regulations: Food safety standards in South Korea, the EU, the US, and other major markets are frequently revised. Businesses must monitor changes and adapt promptly to avoid legal risks and commercial losses.

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