Understanding the Anatomy of a Food Recall

In partnership with: Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development

Ever wondered how food recalls happen and who’s responsible for making sure they run smoothly? Here’s a look at how the process works in Michigan.

Initiating an Investigation

When a problem with food that is likely to cause an adverse health outcome is discovered, an investigation is conducted.

“This can be a physical problem such as a finding of glass or hard plastic; chemicals such as a pesticide residue; a toxin from a natural process such as aflatoxin; or a biological problem such as the presence of a pathogen like listeria or salmonella,” explains Jim Padden, food safety and inspection program manager at the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Recalls may also be issued if a regulatory agency finds a product was produced under unsanitary conditions. Problems with quality issues – not likely to affect health – result in what’s known as a market withdrawal.

Erik P. Mettler, assistant commissioner for partnerships and policy for the Office of Regulatory Affairs in the Food and Drug Administration, notes food recalls are generally enacted by the companies involved.

“After they’ve identified it, it’s really the firm’s responsibility to develop a recall strategy, which will include how the firm will contact its customers,” he says. “For instance, they will issue a public warning, typically a press release announcing the recall.” 

Michael Rogers, assistant commissioner for human and animal food operations at the FDA, notes recalls can come as a result of an FDA inspection, in which they discover deviations from the regulations or violated samples. 

“A lot of time, firms may have their own internal environmental monitoring that will suggest they need a recall,” he says. 

See more: Ensuring Michigan Food Safety

Recall Responsibilities

A food recall can roll out in two ways. If a firm isn’t taking appropriate steps on its own, the FDA can order a recall for a food they have determined is an immediate threat and can cause serious health consequences or death. But those instances are rare.

“The common way a recall happens is that through some event, a problem is discovered,” Padden says. “A consumer could have a reaction to a food. An inspector could observe a problem in a plant or notice a missing allergen on a label review. The manufacturer could find a problem such as a broken piece of equipment or a failed internal test, or the company or regulatory agency could receive a consumer complaint.”

Once the manufacturer is aware of the situation, it recalls the product.

Spreading the Word

After a problem is reported, the wheels start turning, from the consumer to the company to the local health department. The FDA, MDARD and companies with the adulterated product all have a role to play when a product is recalled in Michigan, and these will often overlap. 

The FDA works hand in hand with the state to share information and help leverage resources and authority to make the best decisions for public health.

MDARD connects the firm with the FDA, helps them determine the scope of the recall, and vets and facilitates press releases. MDARD does not have the authority to issue or force businesses to issue a recall; however, when it discovers a firm has produced and distributed food that is likely to be unsafe, it can issue a consumer advisory to warn customers of a potential problem.

“MDARD also has the role of assisting firms to implement a recall,” Padden says. “While manufacturers have the responsibility of recalling products and are supposed to have plans in place and to test them, often this doesn’t happen.”

The FDA provides some of these same functions, serving as the primary agency that manufacturers deal with in determining scope, managing the recall and ensuring its effectiveness. 

Thankfully, most recalls happen within a matter of days. The challenge comes when they involve more ingredient-based products, as well as products with complex supply chains.

“In these cases, it is necessary to trace forward from the manufacturer to various tiers of distributors,” Rogers says. For example, he says, peanut butter can end up in cookies, crackers and ice cream with numerous distributors involved.

“That’s why it may appear these recalls have a long life within the public eye because we are continuing to add additional products when we identify these ingredients were used to manufacture other products,” he says. 

See more: How MDARD Helps Michigan Consumers Shop With Confidence

Recall Notifications

MDARD alerts consumers about food recalls on its website and you can get the latest information on food safety, outbreaks, recalls and more by signing up for email alerts on the website, michigan.gov/mdard, or by following @FDAfood on Twitter.