I keep seeing alerts for food recalls appearing on my social media feeds. One day it’s Costco Recalling Kodiac Power Waffles. The next, there’s a “Class 1” recall on Popsicles. But what does it all mean? What are all these different classes of recall? And what do I need to do if something in my pantry is apparently dangerous?
What Are The Different Types of Food Recalls?
In a sentence, a food recall is an action taken by a company to attempt to take its product off the market for one reason or another. If a company notices an issue with its own product, it may issue the recall itself. Otherwise, the FDA may request the company to make the recall. In some cases, the FDA can force a company via statutory authority to recall a product.
Each recall is assigned a “Class”, which explains how serious the issue is, with Class I being the most urgent. Here’s how the FDA itself defines each of these recall classes:
- Class I recall: a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.
- Class II recall: a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.
- Class III recall: a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product is not likely to cause adverse health consequences.
- Market withdrawal: occurs when a product has a minor violation that would not be subject to FDA legal action. The firm removes the product from the market or corrects the violation. For example, a product removed from the market due to tampering, without evidence of manufacturing or distribution problems, would be a market withdrawal. (Note, this isn’t technically a recall)
Now, just because a recall is “Class I”, that doesn’t necessarily mean you, specifically, are in any immediate danger from the product. It could be that the item contains an allergen that doesn’t affect you, for instance. That’s why it’s important to carefully read any information that comes with the recall.
How Are Food Recalls Identified and Assessed?
As you can imagine, the food and drinks industry is complicated, so there are tons of ways in which food risks are identified and assessed.
It’s standard procedure for companies to routinely test their products for bacteria, allergens, foreign objects, and other contaminants. If something is picked up and a recall is required, in most cases the company is legally required to inform the FDA within 24 hours. If something is missed (or the company didn’t perform its tests correctly), consumers may report getting sick from certain products.
In other cases, the FDA may perform an inspection on anything from the factories and labels, to the products themselves. And in other cases, if a food-borne disease starts to spread, the FDA will often work with the CDC to hunt down the source of the problem, which will often lead to recalls.
On the subject of food risks, choking is always a concern for parents. If you want to learn how to prevent choking in children, check the linked article out!
How Do I Know If a Product is Recalled?
When a product is recalled, the company and any relevant agencies have a responsibility to make an effort to ensure the public knows about it (the FDA will often work with companies to figure out a suitable strategy for getting the message out). This may be through news reports, social media posts, notifications in shops, postings on the FDA/USDA websites, etc.
If you’re in the US: You can see a list of recalls on the FDA website, and also on FoodSafety.gov.
Although this article is aimed at US readers, readers from the UK can see food recalls on the Food Standards Agency website, and Canadian readers can keep an eye on the Government of Canada website (though the recall classes will be different, and we can’t guarantee that all recalls will be listed on those websites).
In the US, if a product is recalled, you will usually find the following important information on the recall notice:
- Product name and description, with enough info to identify the product type.
- Specific lot numbers, expiration dates, UPC codes etc, to help you identify if your specific product is affected.
- The reason for the recall, including any relevant health risks that the public should know about.
- Actions you should take.
- And contact information for if you need more details.
What Should I Do if a Product is Recalled?
First of all, don’t panic. Read the recall notice carefully, and double-check that yours
is actually one of the affected items.
If the recall asks you to dispose of the item, do so as instructed.
Now, just because an item has been recalled that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll always be entitled to a refund or exchange. For this, you’ll need to speak with the retailer where you bought the item from. Don’t forget your receipt!
If you happen to have consumed the affected product, put yourself first, visit your healthcare provider, and get the necessary treatment. You should also consider filing a report with the FDA.
And there we have it: the basics of food and drinks recalls in the US! Short and sweet. If you’re interested in broader food safety risks beyond recalls—like hidden toxins, contaminants, or even long-term health impacts—check out our deep-dive article: The Health Risks of Microplastics: Tiny Particles, Real Dangers.
