Large manufacturers, including Cadbury, Campbell's Soups Australia and Smith's Snackfoods, have been among those recalling products.

Microbial contamination such as listeria and salmonella, failure to declare common allergens such as wheat and eggs, and foreign matter found in products were the main causes for the recalls, all of which were undertaken voluntarily.

Robert Luttrell, the managing director of the crisis management consultancy Luttrell & Associates, said that while the numbers might be related to seasonal factors, they might also be an indication that food manufacturers were taking more precautions and becoming more sensitive about protecting their reputations.

The rate of uptake on recall insurance by manufacturers was also rising, he said.

But Food Standards Australia New Zealand said the 2009 figures remained inside the normal range of between 50 and 60 recalls in any given financial year.

A FSANZ spokeswoman disputed Mr Luttrell's claims that just 19 food safety recalls took place in the previous six months. The authority's records show that 24 recalls occurred between July and December last year. This figure is nevertheless surprising, given that it included the September to December period, when the melamine contamination crisis was at its peak.

The 2009 food recalls include:

- Bulla's cookies & cream ice-cream for foreign matter (plastic pieces).

- Cadbury Old Gold Dark Chocolate (200g block) for milk solids not declared on the labelling.

- Campbell's Country Ladle potato and leek soup for foreign matter (black rubber pieces).

- Heinz variety of sauces and mustards for undeclared allergens including wheat, soy, milk and eggs.

- McCain Healthy Choice's apricot chicken for the presence of the microbial bacillus cereus.

- McCain shepherds pie for an undeclared allergen (fish).

- Roger's Select Meats for listeria monocytogenes in its ready-to-eat roast beef.

- Smith's Classic crinkle cut potato chips for foreign matter (rubber pieces).

- Woolworths for a variety of mince products containing plastic and metal pieces.