Family Recall BriefFood recalls: what to do when something in your kitchen is recalled
Last reviewed November 2, 2026
Who announces food recalls
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) covers most packaged foods, including snacks, frozen meals, produce and infant formula, at fda.gov. The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service covers meat, poultry and processed egg products at fsis.usda.gov. Every recall notice names the company, the product and what to do.
Match your product exactly
Recalls are usually limited to certain sizes, lot codes and best-by or use-by dates. Find the code printed on the package and compare it with the notice. If you no longer have the package, or you cannot tell, follow the notice's advice for that situation, or contact the company.
What the Class labels mean
The FDA labels recalls Class I, II or III. Class I is the most serious level: the FDA describes it as a situation where using the product has a reasonable chance of causing serious health problems or death. The class describes how serious the risk is, not how many people are affected.
Do not eat or serve it, and keep it away from kids
If your product matches, do not eat it, serve it or give it away. Keep it out of reach of children until you follow the notice. Many notices say to throw it away or return it for a refund. Follow what the notice says.
Clean up afterward
If the recalled food touched other surfaces in your kitchen, wash containers, shelves and countertops with hot, soapy water. The notice may give more specific advice for that recall.
Allergen recalls matter even if your child has no allergy
Many food recalls are because an allergen, such as milk, egg, peanuts or wheat, was left off the label. These matter most for children with that allergy, and also for visiting friends and relatives. If a child with a food allergy ate the product and has symptoms, get emergency help right away.
If someone may be sick
Contact your child's doctor or emergency services. For possible poisoning, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
Let us do the watching
Family Recall Brief reads the official FDA and CPSC notices and sends the ones that matter to families with young children, with a link to each official notice. The most serious food recalls are sent the same day.
General information only, not safety, medical or legal advice. See our terms. Always follow the official recall notice.