In 2012, there were 92 food recalls in Britain, 24 of which were due to contamination from foreign bodies. This has prompted SMEs to join larger producers in embracing product inspection as a cost-effective measure against the threat of damaging and expensive recalls. Product recalls are costly, both in pecuniary terms, and the impact on a business's reputation. While the physical recall costs - such as the publication of alerts, transport of the recalled goods back to the factory, and loss of revenue - are relatively straightforward to calculate, it is difficult to determine the more wide-ranging ramifications of a recall, like the damage to the brand in the eyes of supermarkets and consumers. Stringent legislation on food quality, such as the EU's General Food Law Regulation EC 178/2002, is partly responsible for this increase, as is growing awareness among consumers about the issue. In addition to legal requirements, many supermarkets and retailers have drawn up their own policies on quality control, with which they expect their suppliers to comply.
