The cost, availability and purpose of product recall insurance is increasingly misunderstood by food and drink businesses, according to insurance broker Jardine Lloyd Thompson (JLT).

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more


The broker believes that food, drink and ingredient manufacturers and processors should have a “clear understanding” of their vulnerability to product recall situations.


Ian Edwards, of JLT’s Food and Drink Practice, said: “It is crucial for businesses to have a very strong understanding of all component parts of their supply chain, and particularly the insurance arrangements of their suppliers.


“Your broker should have sufficient experience to assist with this process and discuss the options available to you to transfer some of these risks to the insurance market.”


Edwards added that product recall cover is not as high as many might have mistakenly been advised.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

The broker said that a real-life product recall situation can prove “very costly”, as witnessed by the recent high-profile Irish pork recall, where supermarkets had to take the meat off the shelves after pig feed was contaminated with potentially harmful dioxins.


“Contract negotiations will increasingly question if product recall insurance is in place but many businesses choose to simply take the risk on the chin.


“Cover will fund crisis containment and public relations experts to help you to efficiently manage the recall and rehabilitate your products against any negative publicity that might follow,” Edwards added.

Just Food Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Winning five categories in the 2025 Just Food Excellence Awards, Centric Software is setting the pace for digital transformation in food and FMCG. Explore how its integrated PLM and PXM suite delivers faster launches, smarter compliance and data-driven growth for complex, multi-channel product portfolios.

Discover the Impact