Food Safety Alerts 2024: A Deep Dive into the ACN Annual Report

The number of food safety alerts in European networks increased again in 2024, as revealed by the latest Alert and Cooperation Network (ACN) report published by the European Commission. The ACN combines key networks—Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), Administrative Assistance and Cooperation (AAC), the Food Fraud Network (FFN), the Plant Health Network (PHN), and, for the first time, the newly introduced Pet Animals and Animal Welfare networks. Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy topped the list of notifying countries.

Key Figures from the 2024 ACN Report

The 2024 report reveals an 8% increase in the overall number of notifications, reaching a total of 9,460.

Increased Alerts: Food and Feed Safety Under Scrutiny

RASFF alone registered a 12% increase compared to 2023, with 5250 notifications. Nearly one-third were related to border rejections, mostly concerning pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables originating from Türkiye, Egypt, and India. Key hazards reported include:

Pesticide residues (e.g., chlorpyrifos, acetamiprid, dimethoate)
Pathogenic microorganisms (Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes)
Mycotoxins (e.g., aflatoxins, ochratoxin A)

Fruits and vegetables accounted for 1479 non-compliance cases—16% of all ACN notifications—particularly citrus fruits, vine leaves, mangoes, and peppers. Roughly 66% of these cases posed potential health risks. Notably, 84% of these products came from non-EU countries, primarily due to pesticide residues from Turkey, Egypt, India, and China.

Other High-Risk Categories in the 2024 ACN Report

Food Fraud Suspicions on the Rise

In 2024, 1335 AAC and 1959 RASFF notifications were linked to suspected fraudulent activities—a notable increase of 24% and 21% respectively over 2023. Common fraud types include:

Product tampering
Record falsification
Undeclared or misleading information

Food supplements and fortified foods were the second most affected categories after fruits and vegetables. The countries most frequently reported were Türkiye, China, and India.

New Alerts and Coordinated Actions

Two new networks launched in 2024:

Pet Animals Network
Animal Welfare Network

These networks enhance surveillance on document falsification, illegal trade, and animal welfare violations. The Plant Health Network issued 397 notifications, mainly for pest detections, non-compliant plant passports, and ISPM 15 marking issues.

Looking Ahead: Priorities for 2025

The European Commission’s priorities include:

Enhanced monitoring of foodborne pathogens
Stronger focus on sustainability and reduction of harmful chemicals
Tighter enforcement against undeclared allergens and misleading labeling

Is Your Supply Chain Ready?

With increasing food safety alerts, climate change, and higher consumer expectations, companies must update risk assessments and strengthen supply chain controls.
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