What is the most famous product recall?

Asked by: Ms. Alva Hahn  |  Last update: January 27, 2026
Score: 4.5/5 (67 votes)

While many recalls are famous, the 1982 Johnson & Johnson Tylenol recall for cyanide tampering is often cited as the most famous for its impact on corporate recall standards, while the 2004 Merck Vioxx recall stands out as one of the largest pharmaceutical recalls due to heart attack risks, leading to massive settlements. Other notable mentions include the 2009-2010 Toyota gas pedal recalls and the Firestone tire recalls linked to fatalities.

What was the biggest product recall ever?

The Takata airbag defect became one of the largest and deadliest recalls in automotive history. It affected nearly 67 million vehicles in the U.S. and over 100 million worldwide. These airbags could explode when deployed, sending out sharp metal shrapnel.

What brand of cheese is recalled?

There are active cheese recalls, primarily for Pecorino Romano products from Ambriola (including Locatelli, Boar's Head, Member's Mark, Pinna) due to potential Listeria contamination (Jan 2026), and older recalls for various shredded cheeses (like those at Walmart, Target, Aldi) due to potential metal fragments or undeclared allergens (late 2025). Check the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the most current details on brands, dates, and specific product codes, as the Pecorino Romano recall was recently upgraded to a high-risk level.
 

What is the most recalled food item?

Top 10 Most Recalled Food Items

  • Ground beef.
  • Turkey.
  • Chicken.
  • Deli meats and cheeses.
  • Onions.
  • Papayas.
  • Peaches.
  • Cantaloupe.

Why is Coke being recalled?

Coca-Cola products have faced recent recalls, primarily in late 2025, due to potential contamination, including metal fragments (affecting Coke Zero, Coke, Sprite in Texas) and plastic pieces (in Milwaukee-distributed Coke), requiring consumers to stop using or return the affected cans because of potential minor health risks. These recalls, involving thousands of 12oz cans, were issued by distributors like Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages and Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling, with the company confirming product removal from shelves.
 

Top 10 Product Recalls

16 related questions found

What are 10 risky foods to eat right now?

Consumer Reports ranked the risky foods as follows:

  • Deli Meat.
  • Cucumbers.
  • Raw dairy.
  • Cotija and queso fresco cheese.
  • Eggs.
  • Onions.
  • Leafy greens.
  • Organic carrots.

Which Walmart cheese is recalled?

Walmart's Great Value shredded cheeses, along with many other brands like Good & Gather (Target) and Happy Farms (Aldi), were recalled in late 2025 due to potential metal fragments, impacting mozzarella, Italian-style, and pizza blends sold under various store labels with January-March 2026 sell-by dates. Consumers should check their freezer for these specific store-brand shredded cheeses and discard them or return them for a refund, as ingesting metal can cause injuries. 

Which pasta sauce has been recalled?

As of late 2025/early 2026, the main pasta sauce recall involves First and Last Bakery's Marinara, Meat Flavored, and Puttanesca sauces in Connecticut and Massachusetts due to potential botulism risk from improper canning, with a Sept 2026 Use-By date. Older recalls included Ragu for plastic fragments and Wegman's Diavolo for undeclared anchovies. Consumers should check the FDA website for details on current recalls and should discard or return products matching the descriptions.
 

What ice cream has a recall on it?

Currently, a significant recall involves So Delicious Dairy Free Salted Caramel Cluster Frozen Dessert due to potential "small stones" and hard object contamination, affecting pints with best-by dates before August 8, 2027. Earlier in late 2025, there were also recalls for Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream Bars (undeclared allergens) and several brands for potential plastic contamination, including Blue Bunny, Publix, and others, though specific dates and details vary. 

What Hershey candy is being discontinued?

The main Hershey candy recently discontinued in early 2025 is the classic Canadian Cherry Blossom, a chocolate with a cherry, peanut, and coconut filling, due to shifting consumer demands for "wow" experiences. While other candies like Caramel Kisses have also faced discontinuation in the past, Cherry Blossom is the most prominent recent loss for Hershey Canada.
 

What is the oldest candy bar still sold?

The oldest mass-produced candy bar still made today is Fry's Chocolate Cream, launched in the UK by J.S. Fry & Sons in 1866 and now produced by Cadbury, featuring a fondant center in chocolate. While earlier chocolate bars existed, Fry's Chocolate Cream was the first widely available, mass-produced combination bar with a filling, making it a landmark in candy history.
 

What 14 brands of bottled water are being recalled?

The "14 brands of bottled water recall" refers to a 2015 voluntary recall by Niagara Bottling for spring water produced in Pennsylvania, potentially contaminated with E. coli, affecting brands like 7-Eleven, Acadia, Acme, Big Y, Wegmans, Niagara, and Nature's Place, among others, sold in the Northeast US. If you're looking for recent recalls, you'll need to search for current FDA/CPSC alerts as this was a major past event. 

What did McDonald's have a recall on?

Statement from McDonald's USA regarding recall of onions from Taylor Farms' Colorado facility: We understand from our ongoing partnership with health authorities that onions from Taylor Farms' Colorado Springs facility have been a source of focus in an ongoing investigation related to E. coli O157:H7.

What brands of cheese are being recalled?

Impacted Brands: Locatelli: Grated Pecorino Romano (4 oz, 8 oz cups; 5 lb, 10 lb bags) Boar's Head: Grated Pecorino Romano (6 oz cups; 5 lb bags) Member's Mark (Sam's Club): Grated Pecorino Romano (1.5 lb bags) Ambriola Piccante: Grated Pecorino Romano (5 lb, 10 lb bags) Pinna: Grated Pecorino Romano (10 lb bags) ...

What brand of chicken is being recalled?

Hormel Foods Corporation Recalls Ready-To-Eat Frozen Chicken Products Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination. Hormel Foods Corporation. Hormel Foods Sales, LLC Issues Voluntary Class 1 Recall of HORMEL® FIRE BRAISED™ Products.

What salad brand is being recalled?

Taylor Fresh Canada Foods has issued an urgent recall on Sweet Kale Chopped Salad Kit. Taylor Farms Sweet Kale Chopped Salad Kit (340 g) with UPC 24862 00644 and BBD 2024 DE 06 is being recalled due to possible Salmonella contamination. If you have this product, please dispose of it or return it for a refund.

What hamburger meat was recalled from Walmart?

In May 2024, Walmart recalled over 16,000 pounds of ground beef from Cargill Meat Solutions due to potential E. coli O157:H7 contamination, affecting various "All Natural" ground beef and burger patties sold in plastic trays with lot codes 117 or 118 and EST. 86P. Consumers were urged to throw away or return these products, which included 93% Lean Ground Beef, Angus Premium Ground Beef, Ground Beef Chuck, and Sirloin Patties, produced on April 26-27, 2024.
 

What's the healthiest cheese at Walmart?

Organic Grass Fed Cheese(8)

  • Kerrygold Grass-Fed Dubliner Irish Cheese, 7oz. ...
  • Kerrygold Grass-Fed Reserve Irish Cheddar, 7oz $5.74 82.0 ¢/oz. ...
  • Rumiano Cheese Organic Sliced Sharp Cheddar Cheese, 6 Ounce -- 12 per case. ...
  • McCall's 12 Month Irish Grassfed Cheddar Cheese, 7OZ, 12 Pack $110.98 $20.44/lb.

What food adds 33 minutes to your life?

A peanut butter and jelly (PB&J) sandwich, especially made with whole-grain bread and low-sugar jelly, can add about 33 minutes to your healthy life expectancy per serving, according to a University of Michigan study, while foods like hot dogs take away minutes. This is due to the beneficial nutrients in its components, like healthy fats, protein, and antioxidants from peanuts and fruit spreads, balancing out processed meats which have negative impacts.
 

What is the number one food linked to dementia?

The most common food category linked to increased dementia risk is ultra-processed foods, including items like sugary sodas, packaged snacks, processed meats (hot dogs, bacon, salami), fast food (fries, burgers, fried chicken), and pre-packaged baked goods, due to their high content of unhealthy fats, sugar, salt, and additives that promote inflammation and cognitive decline. These foods contribute to faster cognitive decline and a greater chance of developing Alzheimer's disease, the most common type of dementia. 

What is the 2 2 2 rule for food?

The 2-2-2 food rule is a simple guideline for handling leftovers: get cooked food into the fridge within 2 hours, eat it within 2 days, or freeze it for up to 2 months to prevent bacterial growth and foodborne illness. This rule helps keep perishable food out of the "Danger Zone" (40°F–140°F) where bacteria multiply rapidly, with a crucial modification: refrigerate within 1 hour if the temperature is above 90°F.