Most companies don’t think they need help with recalls. Ask them what they use, and you’ll hear the usual: a spreadsheet, a contact list, maybe a saved email template, a few queries someone on the team knows how to run, a shared folder with instructions last updated sometime before the pandemic.

When you ask how well it works, the answer is almost always the same: “It’s good enough.”

But here’s the truth: “good enough” is only good enough until it isn’t. Until a real recall hits, and suddenly the gaps you didn’t see become your biggest liability.

I’m not saying companies ignore food safety. Most companies have responsible, capable teams – but they still rely on a patchwork process to run one of the highest-risk moments their business will ever face. I’ve seen these internal systems (I ran one for 15 years!). They’re often duct-taped together with well-intentioned fixes – part manual, part digital, all reactive.

Here’s what happens when it’s time to execute: the spreadsheet’s outdated, the contact list is missing someone critical, the email didn’t reach everyone, the data query pulls partial results, compliance documentation is scattered across inboxes, updates are inconsistent. And no one’s sure who’s in charge of what.

It’s not that the team isn’t capable. It’s that they don’t have the right tools to enable speed, accuracy, and effective execution.

There’s also a mindset challenge. If you haven’t experienced a complex recall recently, it’s easy to assume what you’ve always done will work just fine. Complacency can cost you dearly in time, trust, and reputation.

Internal systems don’t fail because they weren’t built for recalls. But they struggle to scale, they don’t take into account the complexities of the current supply chain, they don’t automate tasks that should be automatic, they can’t deliver standardized communication across hundreds of stakeholders, they’re slow to adapt, hard to audit, and too dependent on the heroics of individuals.

So no, I’m not saying your team can’t run a recall. I’m saying they shouldn’t have to do it with outdated tools and a patchwork of workarounds. Modern recall management systems exist for a reason—to reduce risk, remove friction, and make the process something your team can actually trust.