What to Do If You Have Recalled Food In Your Kitchen

Return or throw away?

We break it down.

Food recalls are undoubtedly unsettling.

Consumers place their trust in manufacturers to produce andgrow foodsthat are safe to consume.

However, the recalls are also reassuring.

Food manufacturers and inspectors are getting better at finding potential problems.

That means they can catch likely contamination before it affects large swaths of consumersor any consumer.

If you discover you have food that’s been recalled, don’t panic.

Smaller recalls, however, happen every day and rarely with any major public service campaigns to raise awareness.

There, you’ve got the option to read every recall issued within the past several years.

The page will tell you brand names, product names, and the reasons for the recall.

Stop Eating the Food

Don’t eat any recalled foods.

It’s still wise to heed the company’s recall.

You cannot see, smell, or taste foodborne pathogens like Listeria andE.

Wash your hands with warm water and soap.

Wash any containers in which the food was stored, too.

A high-temp wash in the dishwasher is more likely to kill bacteria than a hand wash alone.

With each food recall, companies are required to offer consumers guidance on what to do with the food.

For future recalls, continue to watch theFDA’s Alerts page.

(As a warning, these happen frequently, so your inbox will be busy.)

FARE maintains up-to-the-minute alerts on mislabeled or recalled foods.