What is a Food Recall?

A food recall occurs when a food producer takes a product off the market because there is reason to believe that it may cause consumers to become ill. In some situations, government agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA/FSIS) may request or require a food recall. Food recalls may happen for many reasons, including but not limited to:

• Discovery of organisms, including bacteria such as Salmonella
• Discovery of foreign objects such as broken glass or metal.
• Discovery of a major allergen that does not appear on the product label.

If the product details in the recall notice match the details on the food product you have at home, do not open or consume the product. Instead, do one of the following:

• Return the product to the place of purchase for a refund.
• Dispose of the product following the instructions provided in the recall notice to make sure no one will consume it.

For more information about food recalls, visit foodsafety.gov, or visit the links above.

Food Recalls:

IDPH Foodborne Illnesses

• E. coli
• Listeriosis
• Norovirus
• Norwalk Virus
• Salmonella
• Shigellosis

Related Links

• Food- and Water-borne Illnesses (IDPH)