Published April 6, 2026 · Updated monthly
What to Do If You Have a Recalled Food Product
With 5,000 food recalls tracked in our database, the chances of finding a recalled product in your kitchen are higher than you might think. If you discover that something in your fridge or pantry has been recalled, here is exactly what to do — step by step.
Step-by-Step: What to Do Right Now
If you learn that a food product in your home has been recalled, follow these steps in order:
- Stop using the product immediately. Do not eat, cook with, or serve the recalled food. If it is in your refrigerator or freezer, move it to a separate area away from other food and clearly label it so no one in your household uses it by mistake.
- Check the recall notice carefully. Not every unit of a recalled product is necessarily affected. Look at the specific lot numbers, UPC codes, best-by dates, and production codes listed in the recall notice. Compare these to what is printed on your product. If your product does not match the affected codes, it is not part of the recall.
- Return the product or dispose of it safely. Most retailers will accept returns for recalled products and issue a full refund, even without a receipt. If you prefer to dispose of the product at home, place it in a sealed bag and put it in a trash container that children and pets cannot access. Do not put recalled food in a compost bin.
- Monitor for symptoms. If you or anyone in your household already consumed the recalled product, watch for symptoms. The type and timeline of symptoms depends on the reason for the recall (see the section below on when to seek medical attention).
- Report to the FDA. If you experience adverse effects from a recalled product, report it through the FDA Safety Reporting Portal or call 1-800-FDA-1088. Your report helps the FDA track the scope and severity of the problem.
How to Check If a Product Is Recalled
If you hear about a recall in the news and want to check whether products in your home are affected, you have several options:
- Search on FoodRecall Watch: Use our search page to look up any brand or product name. We track 5,000 recalls across 1,960 brands from the FDA database.
- Check the FDA website directly: The FDA Recalls, Market Withdrawals & Safety Alerts page lists all current recalls.
- Sign up for FDA alerts: You can subscribe to FDA email alerts to receive notifications when new recalls are issued.
- Check with your retailer: Major grocery chains like Costco, Walmart, Kroger, and Whole Foods maintain their own recall notification systems and may contact you directly if you purchased a recalled product with a loyalty card.
When to Seek Medical Attention
The urgency of medical attention depends on the type of contamination and who consumed the product. Here is what to watch for based on common recall causes:
Salmonella
Symptoms typically appear 6 hours to 6 days after eating contaminated food. Look for diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. Most people recover in 4 to 7 days without treatment. Seek medical care if you experience bloody diarrhea, a fever above 102 F, or if symptoms last more than 3 days.
Listeria
Listeria is especially dangerous for pregnant women, adults over 65, and people with weakened immune systems. Symptoms can appear 1 to 4 weeks after exposure (sometimes even longer). They include fever, muscle aches, nausea, and diarrhea. Pregnant women may experience only mild flu-like symptoms, but the infection can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or serious illness in newborns. If you are in a high-risk group and have eaten a recalled product, contact your doctor even if you feel fine.
E. coli
Symptoms usually begin 3 to 4 days after exposure and include severe stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea, and vomiting. Most people recover in 5 to 7 days, but some E. coli infections (particularly O157:H7) can cause hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious condition that can lead to kidney failure. Seek immediate medical attention if you notice blood in your stool or reduced urination.
Undeclared Allergens
Allergic reactions can occur within minutes to hours of consuming the allergen. Mild reactions include hives, itching, and swelling. Severe reactions (anaphylaxis) involve difficulty breathing, rapid pulse, dizziness, and a drop in blood pressure. Use an epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen) if available and call 911 immediately for any signs of anaphylaxis.
Getting a Refund for Recalled Products
You are entitled to a full refund for any recalled food product. Here is how to get one:
- Bring the product (or its packaging) back to the store where you purchased it. Most stores will issue a refund even without a receipt.
- Some manufacturers offer refunds directly — check the recall notice for contact information or a dedicated refund page.
- Keep any receipts, packaging, and UPC codes as documentation in case you need them for a refund claim.
- If the store refuses a refund, contact the manufacturer directly using the phone number or email in the recall announcement.
Protecting Your Family Going Forward
Food recalls are a normal part of the food safety system — they are a sign that the system is working. Here are practical steps to stay ahead of recalls:
- Check for active recalls regularly at our active recalls page
- Look up brands you buy frequently on our brand search
- Keep a record of lot numbers and purchase dates for perishable items
- Register products when possible so manufacturers can contact you directly
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on the reason for the recall. Cooking can kill bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli, but it will not remove allergens or certain toxins. For pathogen-related recalls, the FDA still recommends discarding the product because proper internal temperatures are difficult to guarantee throughout the entire product. For allergen recalls, cooking does nothing — the allergenic proteins remain intact at any temperature.
Return the product to the store where you purchased it for a full refund. Most retailers accept returns even without a receipt. Alternatively, check the recall notice for the manufacturer's contact information — many companies offer direct refunds or replacement products. Keep the packaging and any UPC codes as documentation.
Report adverse reactions to the FDA through the Safety Reporting Portal at safetyreporting.hhs.gov or by calling 1-800-FDA-1088. You can also report to your local health department. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 first and report to the FDA afterward.