Many companies say they run “mock recalls.” But in practice, these drills often amount to little more than paperwork exercises. No urgency. No pressure. No real test of systems.
The result? When a real recall hits, the company is unprepared.
Here are the three most common reasons mock recalls fail:
- They’re too predictable — Everyone knows it’s coming and treats it like a box to check.
- The scope is too narrow — Only QA or regulatory is involved, leaving out operations, sales, and communications.
- There’s no time pressure — Real recalls move at the speed of social media, not the pace of a spreadsheet.
To fix this, mock recalls need to be unannounced, cross-functional, and time-bound. Treat them like fire drills. Make them inconvenient. And most importantly, debrief and improve after every drill.
