July 2024 to June 2025
PRODUCT RECALL MONITOR
The Liberty Product Recall Monitor explores different drivers of product recalls across a variety of industries.
In this edition, we review product recalls in Australia from July 2024 to June 2025 across food, beverage and consumer goods categories. We focus on undeclared allergens in mixed and processed foods, exploring why they continue to be over-represented in food and beverage recalls and look at carcinogenic substances which are frequently excluded from standard recall policies.
A summary of product recalls from July 2024 to June 2025
Between July 2024 and June 2025, a total of 73 food and beverage recalls were issued in Australia, consistent with the number recorded in the preceding 12-month period.
Food & beverages
recalls across
12 months
73
For an in-depth analysis of allergen-related recalls and their profound impact on the food industry, explore the March 2025 edition of our Product Recall Monitor Newsletter, where we thoroughly examine the challenges allergens pose and their far-reaching consequences.
Source: Food Standards Australia & New Zealand
Foreign Matter contamination
Chemical contamination
Microbiological contamination
Others
Undeclared allergens
Food and beverage industry main causes of recalls July 2024 - June 2025
64%
18%
4%
6%
8%
Main cause of recalls
Nearly two-thirds of all food and beverage recalls in Australia are linked to undeclared allergens.
Mixed and/or processed foods
Mixed and/or processed foods remain the most frequently recalled category, with recall numbers more than three times higher than the second most recalled category, breads and bakery.
food and beverage recalls
73
mixed and/or
processed foods
48%
July 2024 - June 2025
4
4
4
3
3
6
7
6
48
8
8
Food recalls by product category
July 2024 - June 2025
Mixed and/or processed foods
Salts, stocks, condiments
Non-alcoholic
Bread and bakery
Fruits and vegetables
Meat and meat products
Alcoholic beverages
Dairy products
Confectionery
Spices
Others
Food recalls by product category July 2024 to June 2025
Why are there more recalls in this category?
Recent recall examples
Consumer goods
Between July 2024 and June 2025, Australia recorded 224 consumer goods recalls, marking a 10% decrease from the 248 recalls reported in the previous 12-month period
Consumer goods recalls by industry
Home & living
Health & lifestyle
Babies & kids
Consumer goods recalls by industry
39%
34%
27%
Home & living
The home and living category – which encompasses home appliances, furniture, home décor, and power banks – accounts for the highest number of product recalls in Australia. This trend is primarily driven by safety concerns related to rechargeable batteries in appliances and power banks, as well as button batteries. In response, Australia introduced a mandatory standard for button batteries in mid-2022. Over the past 12 months, more than 50 recalls have been issued for products that failed to meet these new safety requirements, underscoring the ongoing commitment to consumer protection in this sector.
Recent recall examples
Fire risk
The incidence of overheating batteries continues to represent a hazard to consumers. Here are a couple of recent recall examples.
Packaging non compliant
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Food thermometer
Product contains button batteries. Packaging did not meet new safety standards and was not child resistant.
Fire risk
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Electric reclining chair
Components in the cup holder may become overheated and catch fire, potentially causing death or damage to property.
Home and living main causes of recalls
Source: ACCC Product Safety Recalls
Health & lifestyle
The health and lifestyle category encompasses a diverse range of products, including ATVs, golf carts, bicycles, clothing, playground equipment, and more. Within this category, bicycles (including e-bikes) and ATVs are most frequently subject to recalls, often due to mechanical defects that elevate the risk of accidents, as well as issues related to rechargeable batteries. Notably, six recalls were issued for foldable swimming pools designed for pets. Despite their intended use, these pools fall under the mandatory safety standard for portable swimming pools and were recalled after failing to meet critical safety criteria, presenting a potential drowning hazard.
Home and living main causes of recalls
Source: ACCC Product Safety Recalls
Recent recall examples
Crash risk
If the accelerator return spring breaks, the pedal may stick when released, risking collisions and serious injury if the vehicle doesn't slow down.
> Click to read more
Golf cart
Fire risk
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E.bike
Interchangeable 720W lithium-ion batteries in e-bikes may short-circuit and catch fire, posing a risk of burns and property damage. Four such fires have been reported, some causing property loss.
Non-compliant
> Click to read more
Dog swimming pools
These portable pools fail to meet mandatory safety standards and lack required warning labels, increasing the risk of a child's drowning or death if unsupervised.
Babies & kids
The babies and dids category encompasses toys, clothing, and baby furniture. Choking hazards represent the primary cause of product recalls within this segment, particularly for items intended for children under 36 months. Additionally, the presence of easily accessible button batteries in children’s products has frequently contributed to recalls.
Another common concern involves children’s nightwear that does not comply with mandatory flammability standards; in the past 12 months, 13 such nightwear items were recalled for this reason. Furthermore, during the same period, there were five recalls involving prams, attributed to issues with brake and folding mechanism failures, as well as missing warning labels.
Babies and kids main causes of recalls
Source: ACCC Product Safety Recalls
Recent recall examples
Choking hazard
These toys fail required standards for children up to 36 months and may contain small parts that pose a choking hazard, risking serious injury or death.
> Click to read more
Wood rattle
Non-compliant
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Children's hooded dressing gown
These children’s nightwear items fail mandatory safety standards and lack the required warning label, raising the risk of serious burns if exposed to heat or flame.
Injury risk
> Click to read more
Pram/strollers
These prams/stroller frame's parking brakes can fail during use, risking serious injury to the child.
Why Liberty?
Every day Liberty protect around a third of all products sold in major Australian supermarkets should they face a product recall. Liberty’s Crisis Management insurance products help to provide financial protection and assistance in the event of a product recall, malicious product tampering event or a product withdrawal.
Experts in crisis management
Liberty has the largest recall team in Australia, comprised of experienced underwriters with more than 20 years experience.
Our bespoke policies are tailored to suit the individual needs of clients, covering:
• Accidental contamination
• Product defect
• Intentional impaired ingredient
• Government recall
• Alleged contamination
• Product extortion
• Malicious product tampering
• Adverse publicity
Exceptional service, risk engineering and local claims handling
We understand the need for a quick turnaround. Liberty has Crisis Management underwriters in all eastern states and can meet with clients when needed the most.
Our local claims handling is managed out of Sydney by our senior claims specialist, James Paul.
James Paul
Senior Claims Specialist
We have a dedicated Risk Engineer, Luis Gonzales, who provides technical support to underwriters regarding risk. Luis is available to meet with your client to help ensure we fully understand your client’s business.
Luis Gonzales
Risk Engineer
Market leading cover and best in class crisis support
Our market leading Contaminated Products Insurance includes Retailers Withdrawal coverage*. This means our policy also covers product withdrawal due to a quality issue with no threat of bodily injury. This fills the significant gap in coverage for many clients who find themselves exposed when their product is subject to a withdrawal from supermarkets due to a quality issue, as opposed to a food safety issue.
* All benefits and covers described in this monitor are subject to the terms of the relevant policy.
You can expect 24/7 support from our dedicated crisis management consultants.We provide access to leading crisis management consultants, market leading food technologists and PR experts to assist you with the prevention, management and recovery from a product recall event.
24/7 support
If you would like to know more about product recalls and withdrawals and the tailored solutions we provide, please get in touch with a member of the Liberty Crisis Management team.
Find out more
Contact us
How to access pre-incident credit to prepare fo a product recall
Why Liberty?
Consumer goods
Carcinogenic substances
Mixed and/or processed foods
Main cause of recalls
Menu
Multiple processing steps
Multiple processing steps:
From mixing and cooking to packaging and labelling, every stage of processing food presents potential risks for contamination – whether by harmful bacteria, foreign objects, allergens, or chemical residues. Overall, the complexity of processed food production contributes to a higher likelihood of recalls compared to simpler, single-ingredient products.
Longer supply chains and complex ingredients
Longer supply chains and complex ingredients:
These foods frequently include multiple ingredients from a diverse range of suppliers, significantly heightening the risk of contamination and the accidental presence of undeclared allergens.
Carcinogen detected
Undeclared allergens
E.coli detected
Listeria detected
Frozen food This product was recalled due to possible ethylene oxide contamination that may lead to illness or harm if consumed.
> Click to read more
Carcinogen detected
Instant noodles Several brands of instant noodles were recalled due to undeclared allergens, making them one of the most frequently recalled product types in the past 12 months. Imported foods continue to experience a high incidence of recalls.
> Click to read more
Undeclared allergens
Packaged salads
E-coli detected
Ice cream sandwiches The insured held a general liability policy that excluded coverage for liability arising from product recalls. The manufacturer is suing its insurance broker, alleging the agency was negligent in failing to secure appropriate product recall insurance that would have mitigated a $4.5 million loss.
> Click to read more
Listeria detected
Co-mixed leaf products
Various mixed salad leaves
Fresh cut salad products
Baby spinach products
Carcinogenic substances are often excluded from standard recall policies
Standard recall policies frequently exclude coverage for carcinogenic substances and restrict bodily injury claims to incidents occurring within 365 days of consumption, leaving substantial risks unaddressed. In response to this critical gap, Liberty has introduced an innovative carcinogenic contamination endorsement, specifically designed to safeguard against accidental or inadvertent contamination of food products with known carcinogens*.
This enhanced coverage encompasses scenarios typically excluded under standard policies, including pesticide residue in vegetables and cadmium contamination in chocolate, offering comprehensive protection where it is most needed.
* Agents classified as Class I or 2A according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
Introducing Liberty’s new Food & Beverage Carcinogenic Contamination Endorsement
About cadmium
Cadmium is a naturally occurring heavy metal found in trace amounts within the Earth’s crust. It is introduced into the environment through natural phenomena such as volcanic activity. Beyond its natural presence, cadmium plays a vital role in numerous industrial applications, including the manufacturing of rechargeable batteries, corrosion-resistant coatings and paints, plastic stabilisers, and pigments. Its widespread use underscores the importance of monitoring and managing its environmental and health impacts.
Consumption of foods contaminated with cadmium presents significant health risks, particularly with prolonged or repeated exposure. Recognised as a human carcinogen by leading authorities such as the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), cadmium exposure has been linked to an elevated risk of developing various cancers, most notably lung cancer. It is therefore critical to address and mitigate cadmium contamination to protect public health.
Interesting fact – did you know there is cadmium in chocolate?
Cadmium can enter chocolate primarily through the contamination of cacao plants during cultivation. The key pathways through which cadmium makes its way into chocolate include:
Soil contamination
Cacao trees absorb cadmium from contaminated soils where they are grown. Some regions have naturally higher levels of cadmium in the soil, especially volcanic soils, or soils contaminated by industrial pollution, mining, or the use of phosphate fertilisers that contain cadmium as an impurity.
Air contamination
Cadmium can also be deposited onto cacao plants through atmospheric contamination caused by industrial emissions or airborne dust. Once settled on the plants, this cadmium can be absorbed, contributing to the overall contamination levels in the cacao crop.
Water contamination
Irrigation using water contaminated with cadmium can further contribute to the absorption of this heavy metal by cacao plants, impacting the safety and quality of the final product.
Cocoa beans cultivated in regions with volcanic soils, such as the Andean highlands of Ecuador and Peru, often exhibit higher cadmium levels compared to beans grown in many West African countries, including Ghana. This variation underscores the influence of soil composition on cadmium accumulation in cacao crops.
Source: As You Sow Expert Investigation Related to Cocoa and Chocolate Products
For more information, read our Carcinogens endorsement factsheet
Smartwatch and smartphones
Smartphone
Smartwatch and smartphones
How to access pre-incident credit to prepare for a product recall
All Liberty Insured’s have pre-incident funds available as part of their Liberty Product Recall policy. The allocation is 10% of the net base premium which can be used towards any Liberty pre-approved pre-incident training. These pre incident funds can help you prepare for product recall situations.
What is pre-incident training?
Can Liberty consultants also provide assistance during a product recall event?
Who is on Liberty’s panel?
Are consultant’s costs covered by Liberty’s policy as a result of an Insured Event?
Does the self-insured retention apply to Liberty consultants?
Some of the services that our consultants offer include:
• Mock recall exercises
• Recall plan and crisis management plan reviews
• Media training
• Root cause analysis exercises
• Contingency and business continuity planning/project management
• Assistance in the development of risk based supplier management systems and programs
Yes. We know it is often how a client reacts in the critical first days, or even hours, of a crisis that can determine how severe a crisis will become. This is when the experience and expertise of Liberty’s crisis management consultants is most useful. They can provide advice and assistance to help deal with the crisis at hand. In the event of an incident which may give rise to an insured event, and as part of our Liberty’s product recall policies, we have made available crisis management experts for the Insured.
Liberty’s panel of consultants includes Intelligent Risks and HACCP Australia. Representatives from Intelligent Risks and HACCP Australia are based in Sydney and are more than happy to meet with clients pre or post binding.
HACCP Australia
Based in North Sydney, with staff located in Brisbane, Melbourne, Hong Kong & London. They have over twenty years of involvement with the insurance industry in responding to client's pre-incident and response requirements. They have been in the food technology business for many years of "on the factory floor" experience. This extensive experience and knowledge make HACCP Australia one of the most experienced Crisis Management consultants in Australia and a significant addition to the value and expertise our clients can access. Accidental contaminations are historically the most common type of claim under a contaminated Products policy. Being able to provide access to the expertise and experience of HACCP Australia in the event of an incident will help clients better handle these incidents.
Intelligent Risks
Intelligent Risks was established in early 2001 and has grown into a market leading security, risk, due diligence and crisis management advisory firm. Intelligent Risks support large multinational clients, government agencies worldwide and leading Australian firms by delivering outcomes that build on best practice, and which are adapted to each client’s requirements and capabilities. The team is led by Neil Fergus who has many years of experience managing crisis events, including product recalls, extortion and malicious products tampering, for both the corporate and government sectors.
These costs are included under the policy, and continue for 12 months from first discovery of the insured event if indemnity is accepted under the policy. In the event an incident is not indemnified by the policy, Liberty will still pay the costs of the consultants up to the time Liberty first advises indemnity is not available under the policy.
No self-insured retention applies to consultant and advisor costs. A self-insured retention is a specified amount of money that an insured party agrees to pay out-of-pocket before their insurance policy coverage begins for a particular claim.
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Liberty provides personal, SME, and corporate insurance solutions designed to help people and businesses embrace today and pursue tomorrow. Our team draws on decades of local experience and the strength of the Liberty Mutual Group, a Fortune Global 500 insurer with operations in 27 countries.
We believe progress happens when people feel secure. By delivering protection with care, we support customers, brokers, agents, and partners while building confidence for what’s ahead. Liberty is here for you. Today. Tomorrow. Together.
About Liberty
Last updated May 2026
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Learn the difference between Liberty's Contaminated Products insurance and a standard product liability policy with a Recall Expense Extension
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Contact us
If you’re looking for more information regarding product recall insurance, please get in touch with our specialist crisis management underwriters.
Liberty is not authorised to provide financial product advice. The information in this document does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Always consider the applicable policy wording and other relevant documents before deciding to acquire a Liberty financial product. © Liberty Mutual Insurance Company 2026. This information is current as at 1 April 2026. Liberty means Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, Australia Branch (ABN 61 086 083 605) incorporated in Massachusetts, USA (the liability of members is limited) (Liberty Australia); Liberty International Insurance Limited (UBI 03967394) (Liberty Hong Kong); Liberty Pte. Limited (UEN 201538069C) (Liberty Singapore).
AP1022
Source: Food Standards Australia & New Zealand
Several brands of packaged salads were recalled nationwide due to E. coli contamination. This is one of the largest recalls in the last 12 months.
Health & lifestyle
Home & living
Babies & kids
Crisis Management | Australia
Food and beverage industry main causes of recalls July 2024 - June 2025
64%
18%
4%
6%
8%
Food and beverage industry main causes of recalls July 2024 - June 2025
64%
18%
4%
6%
8%
6
3
3
4
4
4
6
7
8
8
48
Food recalls by product category
July 2024 - June 2025
6
3
3
4
4
4
6
7
8
8
48
Food recalls by product category
July 2024 - June 2025
Consumer goods recalls by industry
39%
34%
27%
Consumer goods recalls by industry
39%
34%
27%
39%
of consumer good recalls
Fire & burns (32)
Choking (25)
Injury – fall, crash & laceration (18)
Electric shock (8)
Other (3)
of consumer good recalls
34%
Fire & burns (16)
Choking (16)
Injury – fall, crash & laceration (48)
Other (1)
Allergic/ skin irritation
(9)
Suffocation
/drowning (10)
of consumer good recalls
27%
Source: ACCC Product Safety Recalls
Choking (54)
Fire & burns (18)
Injury (fall, crash and laceration hazard (18)
Others (10)
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