What to Do During a Food Recall

If there are times when it seems a food recall is constantly in the news, that’s partly thanks to the continuous monitoring that happens to make sure food stays safe. The systems that are used to identify potential problems have gotten more efficient.

While there are a few reasons a food may be recalled, the good news is, there are ways to stay informed and reduce your risk of getting sick from certain foods.

Why is Food Recalled?

Food recalls are typically issued by food producers. This may happen if a food is mislabeled, if they believe the food is contaminated or when a food has been linked to a foodborne illness. Some examples might include undeclared tree nuts found in ice cream, elevated levels of lead in applesauce or potential botulism in canned food.

A foodborne illness outbreak happens when at least two people get the same illness from the same type of food or drink. Some examples include Listeria in a specific brand of cheese, Salmonella in eggs, or E. Coli in carrots. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local health agencies monitor and investigate these situations to help prevent additional people from getting sick.

Public health advisories are issued for recalls and outbreaks when there are specific steps consumers should take to protect themselves. These advisories include information on how to identify products affected and suggestions for handling these foods if you have them at home.

What Should You Do if You Have a Recalled Item?

For a food or beverage recall, specific information is given to help identify the food or beverage affected. This typically includes the type of food, which brands are included and the product’s use-by-date. This information must match for a product to be considered part of the recall. If it doesn't match the recall information, then it is generally considered safe to use.

If a food or beverage is part of a food recall, it should not be consumed. You may be able to return the item for a refund at the place it was purchased. Otherwise, it should be thrown out. This includes any leftovers you may have in the refrigerator or freezer that used the recalled products.

If you identify a food in your home that was part of a food recall, make sure to clean any of the surfaces it may have touched during storage. This includes food storage containers, as well as refrigerator or freezer shelves.

Food Safety for High-Risk Groups

While anyone can become sick from a foodborne illness, some groups of people are at a higher risk of serious side effects if they consume food that has these harmful bacteria or viruses. Individuals who are pregnant, children, older adults, and people with cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, organ transplants or autoimmune disorders are all at increased risk.

These individuals are often advised to avoid certain high-risk foods, including:

• Raw (unpasteurized) milk or cheese
• Undercooked or raw eggs, meat and fish
• Hot dogs and lunch meats
• Raw sprouts
• Premade deli salads, such as ham, egg or tuna salads

Safer alternatives to these foods include pasteurized dairy products, eggs and meat cooked to their appropriate internal temperature, deli meats heated to steaming and deli salads made at home. It also is advisable to wash fruits and vegetables before cooking or eating.

Stay Informed

For live updates on food recalls and public health advisories, check the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services initiative at FoodSafety.gov.

Other ways to stay informed include brushing up on food safety. Remember to wash your hands when preparing, serving or eating food and always cook foods to their appropriate internal temperature. These simple steps can help reduce the spread of foodborne illness.