All About … Food Recalls

Consumer Responses to Food Recalls  84% of Americans say they pay close attention to news reports about food recalls  81% say that when they hear about a food recall they tell others  Fewer than 60% of Americans have ever checked their homes for a recalled food item Suggests that Americans see food recalls as important, but not particularly relevant to themselves Hallman, et al Rutgers University Food Policy Institute.

Food Recalls  Occur when there is reason to believe that a food may cause consumers to become ill  Initiated by a food manufacturer or distributor to take foods off the market (“Voluntary”)  In some cases, food recalls are requested by government agencies (USDA or FDA)

Regulatory Authority  USDA  Meat  Poultry  Frozen, dried and liquid egg Voluntary recalls Recalls of these products are overseen by USDA Traditionally has had easier leverage due to inspection stamp

Regulatory Authority  FDA is responsible for the safety of 80% of all food consumed in the United States  Entire domestic and imported food supply o Except Meat, Poultry & Frozen, dried and liquid egg (USDA)

Foods Under FDA Authority  Dairy Products – Milk, Cheese, Butter  Plant Products – Vegetables, Fruits, Nuts  Juices  Spices  Seafood – Finfish, Shellfish, Crustaceans, Surimi based  Grain-based – Bread, Cereals, Flour  Bottled Water  Infant Formula Dietary supplements Cosmetics Drugs

FDA  Traditionally  Recalls voluntary  If company refused, FDA had to go to federal court to get a court order to seize product  FDA’s mandatory recall authority became effective when President Obama signed the FSMA into law on January 4, 2011  If company refuses, FDA can seize the product

Food Safety Modernization Act  Gives FDA a new system of import controls (foreign supplier verification program, third party certification for imported foods)  Gives FDA mandatory recall power if companies fail to voluntarily recall  Expands administrative detention (FDA can keep suspect food from being moved)  FDA can suspend registration of facility (cannot import or ship food until satisfactory corrective action taken)  Can suspend registration of a food facility if food has a reasonable probability of causing illness or death if eaten

Some reasons for recalling food include:  Discovery of an organism in a product which may make consumers sick  Discovery of a potential allergen in a product  Mislabeling or misbranding of food  Example: a food may contain an allergen, such as nuts or eggs, but those ingredients do not appear on the label

2009  Reportable Food Registry (RFR) implemented  Requires any food facility that manufactures, processes, packs or holds food for human or animal consumption to file a report through the RFR electronic portal when there is reason to believe that a food will cause adverse health consequences or death to humans or animals.  Mandatory Reports must be submitted within 24 hours of a reportable situation

Recalls are divided into 3 classifications based on health hazard  Class I: Dangerous or defective products that could cause serious health problems or death  Class II: Products that might cause a temporary health problem, or pose only a slight threat  Class III: Products that are unlikely to cause any adverse health reaction, but that violate FDA labeling or manufacturing laws.

Health Hazard Evaluation  Diseases or injuries which have already occurred  Existing conditions that can contribute to a clinical condition  Population  Seriousness of hazard  Likelihood of occurrence of hazard  Immediate and long term consequences

Examples of Class I Recalls  Pathogens in ready-to-eat food  Salmonella  Listeria monocytogenes  E. coli O157:H7  Clostridium botulinum  Allergens: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, crustaceans, fish, soybeans  High levels of sulfites  High levels of heavy metals  Choking hazards for susceptible populations

Examples of Class II Recalls  Foreign objects that pose a physical hazard  Pathogens: Shigella, hepatitis A, Cyclospora, Cryptosporidium  Allergen: wheat

Examples of Class III Recalls  “Unfit for food” where hazard is not likely  Low levels of pesticide residue

Determining the scope of a recall  When did the problem start/end  Can additional lots/products be affected other than the lot/product analyzed and found adulterated  How many sizes/labels for the product  Is the product coded with a lot number  Shelf life of product

How do consumers find out about food recalls  Recall notices can be found: In the news At the grocery store Online at Online at

How to identify recalled products Match identifying marks on the product you have with the recall notices Product name Brand Container codes Container size

How to identify recalled products Example notice: Schwartz Brothers Bakery Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk in “Everything Bagels” The product was packed in clear 4-pack plastic bag, with visible image of cheese melted on top of the bagels. “Everything Bagels” has the UPC number and the “best by” dates of 10/14/14 to 11/10/14.

What is the potential problem with this product? Schwartz Brothers Bakery Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk in “Everything Bagels” The product was packed in clear 4-pack plastic bag, with visible image of cheese melted on top of the bagels. “Everything Bagels” has the UPC number and the “best by” dates of 10/14/14 to 11/10/14.

The Potential Problem…  Schwartz Brothers Bakery Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk in “Everything Bagels”

What Type of products do you need to be concerned about in this recall? Schwartz Brothers Bakery Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk in “Everything Bagels” The product was packed in clear 4-pack plastic bag, with visible image of cheese melted on top of the bagels. “Everything Bagels” has the UPC number and the “best by” dates of 10/14/14 to 11/10/14.

What Type of products do you need to be concerned about in this recall?  Schwartz Brothers Bakery Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk in “Everything Bagels”

Do you need to be concerned about all their “Everything Bagels”? Schwartz Brothers Bakery Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk in “Everything Bagels” The product was packed in clear 4-pack plastic bag, with visible image of cheese melted on top of the bagels. “Everything Bagels” has the UPC number and the “best by” dates of 10/14/14 to 11/10/14.

Products to be concerned about… “Everything Bagels” packed in clear 4-pack plastic bag, with visible image of cheese melted on top of the bagels with the UPC number and the “best by” dates of 10/14/14 to 11/10/14

How to identify recalled products Examine the label Match identifying marks on the product you have with the recall notices Product name Brand Container codes and dates Container size or specific packaging in the recall notice

What to do if you have a recalled food Do not serve or eat the food! Discard the food or return it to store where purchased Contact the company that manufactured the food if you want more information about the food. do not eat or serve the food!

Resources & choose the FOOD tab to see this page

Partnership for Food Safety Education Recall Basics Campaign: Under “Campaigns”, click on “Recall Basics” for several resources, including this flyer.

Partnership for Food Safety Education Recall Basics Campaign: Under “Campaigns”, click on “Recall Basics” for several resources, including this flyer.

Georgia Dept. of Agriculture:

Remember… It is the responsibility of food companies to produce high quality, safe products. When they tell us they have had a problem with a particular food, and they want to make sure we don’t consume it, it is OUR responsibility to check to see if we have it and to follow directions.

Judy A. Harrison, Ph. D., Professor and Extension Foods Specialist Dept. of Foods and Nutrition College of Family and Consumer Sciences University of Georgia The University of Georgia and Ft. Valley State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and counties of the state cooperating. Cooperative Extension, the University of Georgia Colleges of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and Family and Consumer Sciences, offers educational programs, assistance and materials to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, age, gender or disability. An Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Organization Committed to a Diverse Work Force All About Food Recalls