FDA: How to Keep Up with Product Recalls

By Jane Farrell

FDA continues to work on improving the way it provides recall information. When there is a food recall, we know many people will want more information. So, if you want recall information, you can visit our Product Recall Page (click here) where sorting and search functions now display this information in an easy-to-read format. We will also be providing updates on the status of certain food recalls, such as mandatory recalls under FDA’s FSMA authority.

Consumers sometimes want to search for information on a specific recall. In the past, the search results were displayed in a basic text format similar to what users would find when conducting any internet search. Now, consumers will see a table.

To provide greater ease of use for consumers, the search results provide data from news releases and other recall announcements in the form of a table. That table organizes information from news releases on recalls since 2009 by date, product brand name, product description, reason for the recall and the recalling firm.

The table also provides a link to the news release on each recall for more detailed information. The news releases were chosen as the source of information for the table because they provide the most up-to-date and user friendly information about any recall.

The new display of the search results markedly different from the previous display, which provided links in a scroll-down format.

When a recall happens, there are a number of things that consumers need to know. Below are some tips we hope will prove useful.

How to identify recalled product?

FDA has provided a short video to demonstrate how to identify a product that has been recalled and what to do with it.

Where can I find recall information?

The FDA provides recall information in a number of ways.

On FDA.gov: You can visit our Product Recall Page where sorting and search functions now display this information in an easy-to-read format. We will also be providing updates on the status of certain food recalls, such as mandatory recalls under FDA’s FSMA authority. The new law also gave FDA authority to mandate food recalls under certain circumstances.

FDA also collaborates with other federal agencies. The government-wide FoodSafety.gov web site provides a widget that displays the latest recalls and food safety alerts from both FDA and USDA. If you have a mobile device, such as an Android phone, you may be able to download an application to get recalls direct to your phone by going to http://www.Recalls.gov.

Where can I find recall information when there is a major recall?

When there are major recalls, FDA will also create special web pages and other resources so you can rapidly learn whether your product is on the recall list. Information on some past major product recalls is available here.

Courtesy FDA Consumer Health Information. For more information, visit www.fda.gov.