From the Archive: A Kalamata Tapenade Recall (2007)

Not all olive news is a study or a harvest. In early 2007, Whole Foods pulled thousands of jars of its Kalamata tapenade off the shelves — a small, useful reminder that even good products go wrong.

What was reported

Whole Foods Market voluntarily recalled about 6,000 jars of its 365 Everyday Value Kalamata Olive Tapenade because the product might contain glass fragments. It was a precautionary recall of a single production lot — the sort of quiet food-safety notice that appears and disappears all the time.

What I make of it now

Two honest thoughts, years on. First, recalls like this are not a sign the food is bad — if anything, a company catching and pulling a faulty lot is the system working. Second, it’s a gentle nudge toward making your own tapenade: it takes five minutes, costs less, tastes better, and the only thing in the jar is what you put there. A bowl of good olives, capers, anchovy and oil has never been recalled.

Originally reported from Whole Foods Market’s voluntary recall notice, January–February 2007. The original notice is no longer online.