10 Infamous Fast Food Item Recalls

Top 10 Infamous Fast Food Recalls

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Infamous Fast Food Recalls.

For this list, we’ll be looking at the most shocking contaminated ingredients and dishes used in and/or sold by fast food establishments that have been rescinded, either voluntarily or not. We’ll be excluding any recalled toys, as they deserve their own list.

Which of these recalls concerned you the most? Let us know in the comments below.

#10: Chicken Noodle Soup Base

Tim Hortons
When people sit down to eat a bowl of chicken noodle soup, they usually expect the protein to be chicken– not bugs. Tim Hortons’ chicken noodle soup base proved to be an unfortunate exception. A batch of the mix, originating from one specific manufacturer, had to be rescinded in Ontario and Alberta due to insects being discovered within it in 2022. Before the contamination was found, it was distributed to various restaurants and hotels in those Canadian provinces. While it’s unclear what exactly caused the infestation, consumers made it clear they were not okay with this. The restaurant swiftly recalled the product, replacing it with unaffected supply.

#9: Apple Slices

McDonald’s & Burger King
Out of everything that could cause problems in a fast food restaurant, pre-sliced apples seem like an unexpected culprit. However, after a potential Listeria outbreak in 2012 was traced back to the seemingly innocuous fruit, the item had to be pulled from restaurants like McDonald’s and Burger King. Various grocery store supplies were also affected. The contamination ended up being traced back to unsanitary conditions at the production stage. Naturally, it was a big deal, as listeriosis– the disease caused by Listeria– can have fatal effects on vulnerable populations. While no one reportedly ended up getting seriously sick, the produce was swiftly recalled. This outbreak happening so soon after the fast food giants started initiatives to increase their fruit servings seemed like pure bad luck.

#8: Garlic Bread

Pizza Hut & Domino’s
Garlic bread is a staple side dish at many pizza places, and is considered to be a fan favorite of diners across the world. But Australians were forced into a garlic bread deficit in 2017 after it was discovered that the margarine used in the recipe by Pizza Hut and Domino’s had been tainted by small pieces of plastic. The cause was found to be a filter at the plant where it was manufactured. Of course, the affected products were promptly pulled before any customers could be adversely affected. However, people were disappointed at the sudden shortage, and even took to social media to complain. Of course, those same customers were probably overjoyed once the item was finally returned.

#7: Tomatoes

Various
To many people, tomatoes are a staple of fast food dishes. So when they were suddenly recalled in 2008 due to an outbreak of a rare form of salmonella, the country was shocked. This impacted practically everyone, including many McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and Taco Bell restaurants, among others. Indeed, with limited information available regarding the root cause of the issue at the time, they decided to remove tomato slices as a health precaution. By the end, well over a thousand people had been infected across the US. Eventually, it was discovered that tomatoes likely weren’t the main culprit. And of course, the item ultimately made its way back into meals everywhere.

#6: Clover Sprouts

Jimmy John’s
In 2020, several E. coli cases that had occurred over the prior years ended up being traced back to Jimmy John’s, a popular sandwich chain. After an investigation led by the Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the restaurant was accused of acquiring and selling tainted clover sprouts. They were then met with an official “warning letter” about removing the spoiled product from the FDA. In the aftermath, Jimmy John’s did end up pulling the item, claiming they were doing so out of a desire to be cautious.

#5: Chicken Breast Patties

Subway
You often hear of people finding strange things in their fast food order, but plastic takes it to a whole new level. In 2015, West Liberty– a company that supplied chicken to Subway – recalled over 34,000 pounds of meat in 5 states. This occurred because plastic was found inside the chicken patties. Unfortunately, the pieces were only discovered after customers had already started consuming the product. Thankfully, no one is believed to have suffered serious negative health effects as a result of the contamination. However, the shocking news understandably made waves.

#4: Romaine Lettuce

Wendy’s
One contaminated ingredient can have a ripple effect across a whole menu. Fans of Wendy’s learned this after it was revealed that an outbreak of E. coli was potentially linked to the burger joint’s sandwiches. More specifically, the romaine lettuce used in them was a chief suspect. The 2022 outbreak caused over 100 people across America to become sick. A large portion of the patients infected claimed to have consumed sandwiches from the restaurant before falling ill. While definitive confirmation that the romaine was the source never came, the chain still promptly removed the affected item in the relevant states. By October 2022, the outbreak had been declared “over” by the CDC.

#3: Seasoned Beef

Taco Bell
Taco Bell uses a myriad of delicious spices and seasoning in their food. However, metal definitely isn’t meant to be part of their seasoned beef’s ingredient list. In 2019, after reports that patrons had discovered metal shards within the beef in their meals, the franchise quickly recalled the item. Luckily, reportedly nobody was harmed, although folks definitely could have been if the problem was ignored. The scope of the event was wide, as over 2 million pounds of the product had been sent to 21 states – and it all had to be disposed of. However, the voluntary recall arguably showed that Taco Bell was committed to making things right.

#2: Salad

McDonald’s
While McDonald’s salads can’t exactly be called healthy, many customers love the meal. However, they had to sacrifice their holy grail item in 2018 after an outbreak of a parasite called Cyclospora was traced back to the restaurant’s salad mix. Hundreds ended up being infected, and dozens were hospitalized. The parasite can cause intestinal discomfort and diarrhea, and symptoms can last up to months. So the scope of the problem here was pretty serious. Thankfully, McDonald’s was quick to remove (and soon replace) salads from roughly 3,000 U.S. locations in hopes that the spread would be quelled.

#1: Beef

Jack in the Box
This recall is one of the most disastrous in American history. In 1993, after several children contracted a serious illness, the Department of Health in Washington State unearthed E. coli in burgers at Jack in the Box. Washington State wouldn’t end up being the only state involved. By the end of the outbreak, the bacteria had infected over 700, and killed four. Had the beef been cooked at a high enough temperature, any remaining bacteria would’ve been eradicated. But it wasn’t. Naturally, the impacted beef was recalled. The company reportedly ended up suffering roughly $160 million in losses, and was sued. The event was so severe that it prompted more vigilance from consumers and regulations in the industry.