New research from pest control experts Rentokil has examined the cost of product recalls to the bakery industry, and how they can be avoided. 

Rentokil, which provides pest control solutions to the food industry, has compiled an infographic that reveals UK product recalls rose 29% year on year in 2016 compared to 2015, and that 12% of all food recalls were baked goods.

It also said 48% of UK businesses that closed as a result of pest contamination in 2016 reported the disruption lasted more than two weeks.

Only 68% of UK businesses are proactive about pest control, compared to 82% in America, Rentokil found.

In 2016, there were 92 product recalls related to baked goods in the US and 12 in the UK.

The most common causes in both cases were:

  • Undeclared peanuts
  • Undeclared milk
  • Listeria monocytogenes
  • Salmonella
  • E. Coli

The most commonly recalled baked goods in both cases were:

  • Cookies
  • Cakes
  • Bakery mixes
  • Pretzels

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