How does a food get recalled?

Hook

Why and how does a food get recalled? Recalls hit the news all the time, especially right before the holidays. Here's what actually happens.

Who

Two agencies watch most of the food supply. The USDA handles meat, poultry and egg products. The FDA handles almost everything else.

Why

Recalls usually happen for three reasons. Germs like salmonella or listeria, an allergen that isn't on the label, or something that shouldn't be there, like bits of plastic or metal.

Voluntary

Most recalls are voluntary. The company pulls the product itself, often after testing, inspections or reports of people getting sick.

Classes

Then the recall gets a class. Class one means a real chance of serious illness or death. Class two is a remote risk. Class three is unlikely to hurt anyone, but it breaks the rules.

Power

If a company refuses, regulators can seize the food. And since a 2011 law, the FDA can order a recall itself in the most serious cases.

You

If you have a recalled product, don't eat it. Check the lot number and dates, then throw it out or return it for a refund. You can search recalls at foodsafety dot gov.

Close

So a recall is how companies and regulators pull unsafe food off the shelves fast. ThatsWhyHow.