MEMPHIS, Tenn. — According to Sedgwick brand protection’s latest U.S. product recall index report, more than 900 million units have already been recalled in these industries during the first quarter of 2022. Not only does this mark the highest number of units recalled in a single quarter in the past 10 years, but it also eclipses average annual figures recorded across this timeframe too.

U.S. regulators have started off 2022 with increased enforcement activity and stricter scrutiny over the automotive, consumer product, food and beverage, pharmaceutical and medical device industries.

Sedgwick brand protection’s quarterly report takes an in-depth look at the top challenges and regulatory developments that businesses need to know about to navigate an evolving recall environment. The report includes the latest product recall data and trends from the first quarter of 2022 plus insights, analysis and predictions from Sedgwick’s brand protection experts.

Highlights from the first quarter recall data:

NEW YORK — During a meeting with United Nations ambassadors and officials at the U.S. Mission to the U.N., United States Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and The Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine are entering into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to enhance coordination between the U.S. and Ukrainian agriculture and food sectors and build a strategic partnership to address food security.

“Since February the world has witnessed Russia’s unjustified invasion of Ukraine and the disruption it is causing to agricultural production, trade and most importantly, food security,” said Vilsack. “Russia’s actions are posing major threats not only to the people of Ukraine but to countries in Africa and the Middle East that rely on the grains and other staples produced in Ukraine. Russia is using food as a weapon and a tool of war to threaten the livelihoods of those around the world, and that is something the agriculture community cannot and will not stand for.

“Ukraine needs the world’s support, and this week I met with Ukrainian Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Mykola Solskyi to express USDA’s commitment to helping rebuild and strengthen Ukraine’s agriculture sector. This MOU will amplify the strategic partnership between our two nations and leverage our collective strength to enhance productivity, address supply chain issues and identify food security challenges. This is an important step forward and when implemented will allow us to better fight global food insecurity together.”

The MOU will establish a three-year partnership driven by the need to address the economic disruptions in the United States and worldwide due to the Russian war on Ukraine. It is the latest action being taken by the USDA as the Biden-Harris Administration addresses these problems through an all-of-government approach.

Through the MOU, the United States and Ukraine will agree to the consistent exchange of information and expertise regarding crop production, emerging technologies, climate-smart practices, food security and supply chain issues to boost productivity and enhance both agricultural sectors. USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service will also mobilize its resources to provide Ukraine technical assistance for animal health, biosecurity, and sanitary and phytosanitary controls and utilize the Borlaug Fellowship Program and re-establish the Cochran Fellowship Program to enhance U.S.-Ukraine collaboration and research as Ukraine rebuilds its agricultural sector.

TOPEKA, Kan. – Bill Pursley, longtime vice president of food safety education at the American Institute of Baking (AIB) International, died on June 12 in Topeka, Kan. He was 75.

For nearly 32 years, Pursley led AIB International’s food safety audits and education business, helping food companies understand and manage food safety good manufacturing practices and prerequisite programs. After retiring from AIB in 2012 he worked as consultant.

Pursley received his master’s in grain science from Kansas State University, then joined the American Institute of Baking in 1975 as an inspector and worked in northeast U.S. and Canada. He later moved to AIB headquarters as program coordinator, then director of the audit services and started the Food Safety & Defense Educational Department. During this time, Pursley was instrumental in establishing offices or co-associations with many countries including Europe, Japan, Latin America and China.  

Pursley was also a leading educator, having conducted numerous training seminars and audits worldwide. He educated thousands of students about the important role they play in protecting the nation’s food supply.

Al Ct. Cyr, a longtime colleague of Pursley’s at AIB, share on LinkedIn that Pursley was “just as comfortable working with people on the plant floor as in the corporate board room. Bill had a unique ability to get to the core of an issue and come up with a solution. He was a gifted teacher and helped tens of thousands of people in the food industry understand their role in protecting the integrity of the food they work with. He will be missed.”

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to: Jamie’s Wish Foundation, or Manhattan Kiwanis Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 876, Manhattan, KS 66505.