Food Safety Risks Loom; Sysco and DHL Address Recall Questions

Food recalls remain one of the most visible risks in supply chain management, carrying consequences that extend far beyond compliance paperwork. Contaminated products put consumers at direct risk of illness, and every link in the chain—from supplier to distributor—faces the fallout. For companies, recalls can mean lost revenue, fractured trust with customers, and heightened regulatory scrutiny. For supply chain leaders, the reality is stark: food safety is not simply a regulatory checkbox but a strategic imperative.

In August, The Supply Chainer asked Sysco and DHL Supply Chain to comment on recent cases involving Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella. Both companies responded, stressing their safety programs and drawing clear lines around accountability.

Sysco on Listeria-Linked Shakes

Sysco confirmed its involvement in a recall of frozen supplemental shakes produced at a Fort Wayne, Indiana facility earlier this year. The incident was tied to an outbreak of Listeria, a pathogen that poses serious risks to vulnerable populations such as the elderly, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems.

“Implicated downstream customers were immediately notified when the recall occurred, and impacted items are no longer available. Sysco also halted purchases of any other products that originated from that facility,” a company spokesperson said in a statement to The Supply Chainer.

Sysco emphasized that the incident has not changed its overarching approach to safety, which it describes as industry-leading. “We have an industry leading food safety and quality assurance program that we continuously strengthen,” the company said, pointing to annual third-party supplier certifications, routine internal audits, and higher safety standards applied across its Sysco-branded portfolio.

DHL on Inmar’s Past Salmonella Recall

DHL Supply Chain also addressed questions about its January 2025 acquisition of Inmar Supply Chain’s reverse logistics arm. Inmar had overseen a voluntary recall in 2023 due to Salmonella risk, leading to questions about whether the incident would affect DHL’s current operations. Marcia McLaughlin, External Communications Manager at DHL Supply Chain North America, drew a clear distinction between past and present. “The voluntary recall you reference occurred in 2023 and was appropriately addressed by Inmar Supply Chain at that time… Since the acquisition, no recalls have been issued by DHL Supply Chain for any of its operations,” she told The Supply Chainer. She added that “all DHL sites employ robust policies and safeguards to ensure the health and safety of its operations and associates as well as best-in-class customer service.”

The Broader Risks for Supply Chains

Both cases underline the fragility of consumer trust and the importance of vigilance in food logistics. The risks unfold across several dimensions:

• Personal Risks: Pathogens like Listeria and Salmonella can lead to severe illness or fatalities, making rapid response non-negotiable.

• Operational Risks: Recalls disrupt supply networks, forcing rapid coordination with downstream distributors and retail partners.

• Reputational Risks: Brand credibility can collapse overnight if stakeholders believe safety standards are not being enforced.

• Regulatory Risks: Oversight bodies are increasingly aggressive in monitoring compliance, and failures can result in fines, restrictions, or criminal liability.

For executives, these cases are reminders that safety programs must be more than documents on a shelf—they must be active, auditable, and enforced across every supplier relationship.

The Takeaway

Sysco and DHL each responded differently—one addressing an outbreak head-on, the other clarifying distance from a past event. Yet both converge on the same point: in food logistics, safety programs are not optional. They are the foundation of trust, and without trust, supply chains fail. For supply chain professionals, the lesson is clear: building resilient networks means embedding safety into every process, every relationship, and every contingency plan.