Do Some Consumers Really Relish Recalled Products?
After food recalls are announced, I personally scour my kitchen for evidence of the culprit.
Carefully searching all possible nooks and crannies (sometimes on my hands and knees in the deepest corner of the pantry), I liken the exercise to searching for an Easter basket or, depending on my mood, buried treasure in the Caribbean. The only difference is that if and when I find what I’m looking for, I tend not to eat it. Instead, I take it to the office (given my line of work) to show it to colleagues or put it aside for potential future testing. When the dust settles, I might even burn it – while roasting marshmallows – in the fire pit.
Following most major food product recalls, however, many consumers aren’t quite as diligent. Maybe it’s why some people drive too fast, drink too much on weekends, wander off Bourbon Street (alone) after bar close, or perhaps, even, skydive more than once in their lives.
You see, we now know that, when major food product recalls are announced, many people also don’t bother to check what they’re eating. According to a new study released by Rutgers Food Policy Institute, only about 60 percent of those interviewed reported ever having looked for recalled foods in their homes. Of those that did, only a small fraction said they actually found a recalled product.
Surprisingly, however, when people do find recalled products in their kitchen, not all of them do what they’re told. Rather than throwing the products away, a full 12 percent of those who searched for, and then actually found a recalled food, said they went ahead and ate it anyway, despite the fact it had been pulled from shelves. Hmmm.
In any event, although feeding on the edge may be popular for some, I’m not quite convinced. Do us all a favor, listen to recall warnings and eat healthy. And, remember, if you still need to satisfy that appetite for adventure, there's always Bourbon Street …
