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What
is an FSIS recall?
A recall is a firm’s voluntary removal of a product
from trade or consumer channels to protect the public from
consuming adulterated or misbranded products. A recall may
be an alternative to an FSIS detention or seizure of adulterated
or misbranded products. Although recalls are voluntary,
the FSIS oversees all recall activities by official meat
and poultry establishments and coordinates any FSIS actions
with the recall taken by the firm.
The FSIS issues a press
release for all recalls. Press releases describe the
product being recalled, along with any identifying marks
or codes, the reason for the recall, and an explanation
of the risk involved in consuming the product. Press releases
also provide instructions to the public on what to do with
the product if they can identify it and have it in their
possession, and the name and telephone number of a company
contact for consumers who have questions.
Although recalls are an important step in removing a product
from consumer channels, they are not 100 percent effective.
For example, a recall was issued for Cargill Turkey Products
on December 14, 2000 for 16,895,000 pounds of turkey and
chicken products containing the bacteria, listeria. After
the recall’s effectiveness was assessed, it was determined
that only 2,064,710 pounds were recovered. That leaves 14,830,290
pounds that were unaccounted for because they were most
likely already purchased and consumed by the time the recall
was issued. There is often a large time gap between the
time a shipment of contaminated and unsafe meat reaches
the store shelf and a recall is issued. Unfortunately, at
this time, the FSIS does not follow up on the result of
having unaccounted contaminated and unsafe meat eaten by
consumers. Therefore, the link between contaminated and
unsafe meat not recovered during a recall and the outbreak
of foodborne illness is not monitored. For
further recall effectiveness information, please click here.
What authority does FSIS have in a recall?
When the source for a potential health and safety hazard
through the consumption of adulterated or misbranded meat
or poultry products is identified, the FSIS will notify
the source manufacturer or importer and release a public
recall notice. The FSIS has the authority to detain or seize
meat and poultry products when there is reason to believe
they are hazardous to public health. The FSIS does not have
the authority to force a manufacturer to recall contaminated
meat or poultry. For that reason, all recalls are voluntary.
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