In light of several food recalls over the past few years including beef and peanut products, the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) was asked to conduct a study that focused particularly on school food safety and how food recalls are handled. As children are still developing their immune systems and are unable to fight infection as well as adults, they are at high risk for foodborne illness. According to the August 2009 report from the GAO, improvements need to be made on the efficiency and effectiveness of communicating recalls when it comes to keeping kids safe at school.

In early 2009, when almost 4,000 peanut-containing foods were recalled for possible Salmonella contamination, the report from the GAO says that out of 700 people who were reported sickened, one-third were school age children between ages five and 18. This raises overall concern for school food safety and the need for review of the effectiveness of recalls of foods served in school food programs.

food recall article