In November, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued twelve food recalls at the highest risk level, and these recalls are still ongoing. These products, as listed and shown in the map below, have been given a Class I recall status. A Class I recall is issued when there is a "reasonable probability" that using or being exposed to a product could "cause serious adverse health consequences or death."

Understanding Food Recalls

Food recalls are made by the FDA and the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) for various reasons, such as contamination with harmful bacteria, undeclared allergens, mislabeling, and foreign object contamination. This month, the most common reason for Class I recalls was harmful bacteria - Listeria and E. coli. In November alone, nine voluntary recalls were granted Class I status due to these bacteria. Recent outbreaks of both in contaminated food have led to deaths across the U.S. this year.Lisa R. Robinson, vice president of global food safety and public health at Ecolab, emphasized the seriousness of foodborne diseases. She said, "Foodborne diseases can be quite serious - even deadly. The challenge is that the pathogens responsible for foodborne illness are all naturally occurring. For example, Salmonella and E. coli can be found in the gut biome of chickens and cattle. Cronobacter and listeria are even more widespread - they can be found in soil and fields, making it easy for them to spread from one environment to another."Undeclared allergens also play a significant role, as two products were withdrawn due to undeclared sesame and egg. Allergens can cause serious and sometimes fatal reactions, and the nine major allergens - peanuts, wheat, milk, tree nuts, soy, egg, crustaceans (shellfish), fish, and sesame - are legally required to be clearly marked on all products.

Products Subject to Class I Recall

The following products have been subject to a Class I recall notice in November:- Shirakiku Korean Seasoned Seaweed - undeclared allergen (sesame)- Joseph Seviroli: Chicken Alfredo Kit - Listeria contamination- Dakota Toms: Pepperjack Cheese Burger - Listeria contamination- Dakota Toms: Bacon Cheeseburger - Listeria contamination- Dakota Toms: The Gambler - Listeria contamination- Taylor Farms: raw, yellow onions (sliced/diced/slivered/ringed) - E. coli contamination- Taylor Farms: raw onions (whole and unpeeled) - E. coli contamination. Two package sizes: 5lb and 50lb.- Taylor Farms: raw, yellow onions (whole and peeled) - E. coli contamination- FreshPoint: Fresh onions (julienne/diced) - E. coli contamination- "IMPERIALFRESH PROC FAJITA GRN PEPRED PEP" - E. coli contamination- Bowl & Basket: onion soup and dip mix - undeclared allergen (egg)

Geographic Reach of Recalls

Twenty-six states are affected by at least one of the recalls. Eight states, including Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming, have five Class I recalls. Iowa, North Dakota, and South Dakota each have four recalls currently in place. Meanwhile, Arizona, California, Georgia, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington all have three or fewer recalls.It's important to note that the current recalls are only those classified in November. There are other graded food items that are still being withdrawn from previous months.