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Pathogen Detection

Recalls and Scraps Cost Millions: Here’s How to Stop Them

Beyond the immediate financial losses, which can reach up to 1 million euros per incident (as explained by Hervé Gomichon, former Group Director of Quality and Sustainable Development at Carrefour), product recalls and scraps have huge consequences for food industry players. Pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, and Cronobacter are among the leading guilty parties behind these crises. In fact, pathogens accounted for 39% of all food recalls in 2024, with Listeria alone responsible for over 80% of microbiological recalls in France, a figure that rose 36% year-over-year

How to Avoid Scraps and Recalls

The human cost is alarming too: in 2023, the EU recorded nearly 3,000 listeriosis cases leading to 335 deaths, while we recorded 77,486 cases for salmonellosis leading to 88 deaths. 

These outbreaks and crisis don’t just harm consumers but they devastate brands and their images. For example, studies show that 68% of consumers would stop buying from a brand after a food safety incident, and recovery of trust can take anywhere from 1 to 4 years.

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Moreover, recalls can:

  • disrupt supply chains, 
  • increase operational costs, 
  • and force companies to invest heavily in preventive measures and advanced diagnostics. 

The food industry is also under growing pressure from consumers who demand transparency, traceability, and higher safety standards. As a result, recalls not only threaten immediate profitability but also jeopardize future growth and competitiveness in an increasingly vigilant market.

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Preventing Food Recalls: Why Pathogen Control Is Your Best ROI

In close partnership with our customers, we've worked with leading global food and beverage companies to develop our Augmented Diagnostics approach. This innovative approach enhances the precision and effectiveness of safety and quality control programs throughout the entire production value chain.

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Augmented Diagnostics is a combination of cutting-edge testing technologies (covering microbiology and molecular biology) and the latest data science & genomic capabilities, all pioneered by our innovative spirit.  The Augmented Diagnostics approach helps to understand your plant in order to prevent and better handle costs by controlling your microbiological environment. 

 

Augmented Diagnostics in Action - Results & Examples

Our customers' stories demonstrate the value and benefits of the Augmented Diagnostics approach and how it can move food producers from reaction to anticipation and prevention.

  

Get In Touch with us to Get a Personalized Plan

Want to avoid scraps and recalls? Get in touch using the short form below and one of our experts will be in touch to discuss your unique challenges and needs.

 

 

Food Safety and Quality

Our Approach

Move from Test Results to Actionable Insights with Augmented Diagnostics.

This approach helps our customers increase the precision and actionability of their safety and quality control programs along their entire production value-chain.