If you have hesitated to fill your key chain with your frequent shopper card, you may think twice about that decision. In the latest round of food recalls, customers received an automated phone call or e-mail notification alerting them to a problem with something they purchased. Remember this is not about privacy but a positive vehicle for discounts and in this case, communication.

This has been a scary food and health week. What started as a limited voluntary recall by JBS Swift of some of its beef products for suspected E. Coli is now listed by the CDC as a multistate outbreak. Then there was the Plainview Milk Products Cooperative nonfat dry milk Salmonella suspicion. It, too, started out with a seemingly limited impact and has become more of a major event. It is nice to know that the grocery tracking system has an inherent safety feature.

Then there’s the fallout from the voluntary recall for suspected Salmonella. If you want to understand the depth of the problem: Here’s an easy way. Dunkin’ Donuts has stopped selling its Dunkaccino drinks and hot chocolate as they were made with the mixes from this company. Stop & Shop also stopped selling its nonfat packaged milk products.

So earlier this week both the milk and the beef had more limited recalls. A simple takeway here: When there is a general recall, it is quite possible it will become a bigger one. One that reaches closer to everyone’s shopping and purchasing habits. We should have learned that from both the peanut butter and pistachio recalls.

It’s been a tough week, and it’s only Thursday.

Hard to have a warm, cuddly feeling about our food supply!