Everyone I know is talking about AI.
It's already transforming industries and revolutionizing how businesses operate. The applications in the food sector are promising, with a safer future no doubtably on the horizon. But I have to be honest – while the possibilities are impressive, AI alone won’t eliminate recalls.
Food recalls are, at their core, a human problem. Human decisions, human oversight, and human responses determine whether a recall happens and how it plays out. AI can scan vast amounts of data, but it still relies on people to act on that information. Technology is only as strong as the processes and accountability behind it. Without a Recall Ready culture in place, AI becomes just another tool that may or may not be used effectively.
But, you say, AI is already reducing recalls by catching risks earlier than humans ever could! Machine learning models can detect contamination risks, equipment failures, and labeling errors long before they escalate. Automated systems can trigger corrective actions without waiting for human intervention, removing some of the variability that leads to human error. If AI keeps advancing at its current pace, won’t it eventually eliminate the need for human roles in recall prevention?
It’s true that AI is making food safety smarter and more efficient. The more data these systems process, the better they become at predicting and preventing issues. But even the most advanced AI can’t function without human involvement. It can flag risks, but it can’t determine the right response in every scenario. A flagged anomaly might be a false alarm, or it might require a nuanced decision based on regulatory compliance, supply chain logistics, or brand reputation. AI might remove some of the human error from detection, but it doesn’t remove the human responsibility for action.
I could be wrong – AI might actually eliminate recalls in the future, but we can't let public health suffer in the meantime. Even if we assume AI will “solve” recalls, we can’t neglect the more important work: developing structured recall protocols, building supplier partnerships, and conducting recall simulations that prepare teams for real-world execution. Relying too heavily on AI could cause businesses to overlook the foundational work needed to handle recalls effectively.
The future of food safety isn’t AI-driven, it’s AI-assisted. AI will help companies detect risks faster, but it won’t make the tough calls. It won’t manage the public response when a recall happens, nor will it navigate the complexities of brand reputation and consumer trust.
That’s still a human job.
