Product recalls in the food industry are unavoidable and can be costly in terms of dollar losses, brand damage and consumer health. Despite the severe repercussions of food recalls, little is known about (1) how companies can increase the effectiveness of their recall process; (2) what factors increase the severity of recalls in the food industry; and (3) where food companies should focus their efforts in order to efficiently develop recall capabilities. As more food products are grown globally and imported into the United States, food supply chains are increasing in length and complexity, which further hinders a firm's ability to recall products. The purpose of this dissertation is to conduct an in-depth systemic investigation of product recalls in food supply chains and shed light on this extremely important, yet underdeveloped, research area that may have severe repercussions.;In my first essay, I develop a knowledge driven framework of product recalls in food supply chains. In this framework, I establish the five primary components of a recall process and discuss various phases within each component. In my second essay, I investigate what factors increase the severity of product recalls in food supply chains and where companies should focus their efforts and resources to effectively develop recall capabilities. Because of the lack of empirical research on product recalls in the extant supply chain literature, the case research methodology is employed in both essays. Data for these studies were collected from 21 cases, including 55 semi-structured interviews, archival records, on-site visits (including observation of a mock recall), and focus groups. By strategically selecting various firms along the food supply chain, including farmers, manufacturers, distribution centers, logistic providers, retailers, government agencies and other food industry experts, this dissertation provides a holistic understanding of product recalls in food supply chains.
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