Food Safety – Food Recall and Withdrawals

A food recall is either a food manufacturer or suppliers’ voluntary response to a mislabeling, or potential hazard by removing a product from the marketplace or it is mandated by the FDA in response to a food safety issue determined. The most common reasons for food recalls are allergen mislabeling and the presence of pathogens. Other reasons behind food recalls include incorrect packaging, wrong food labels and physical contamination.

The importance of having a food recall plan is to ensure quick and efficient removal of affected products from the market plane and to allow the identification of key areas of needed improvement to prevent future hazards. Recall and withdrawal procedures are required for food manufacturers under the final FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) rule for “Preventative Controls for Human Foods for hazards requiring control.