How to Protect Your Health After a Food Recall
You just got back from the grocery store, and you can't wait to dive in and cook a delicious meal with all the delicious ingredients you just bought. Then you get the news that something you purchased is being recalled. What does that mean? And what should you do now?
Why Food Gets Recalled
Food recalls are left up to the discretion of the manufacturer and could be triggered by any number of issues. They may have detected the presence of disease-causing bacteria that could cause salmonella or listeria in their food products. Or they might have found artificial contaminants like plastic or metal. In most cases, manufacturers do food recalls as a precautionary measure to ensure people don't become sick.
That being said...
Never Eat Recalled Foods
Also, do not open, smell, or taste-test recalled or potentially contaminated foods. More than likely, you won't be able to tell if your food is contaminated or not just by taste, smell, or appearance. It's better to exercise caution.
Additionally, you should not donate recalled food to food shelters nor give recalled food to your pets. Donating it just adds more work for the people at the food shelter to dispose of the recalled food properly, and your pets can get food poisoning just like humans do.
Follow the Company's Instructions
Every food recall will be accompanied by instructions from the manufacturer on what to do with the recalled food. Generally, this will be returning it to the place you purchased the food from for a refund or disposing of the food immediately. You should follow these instructions exactly.
Don't put yourself in a panic because of a food recall. Just follow the instructions and keep an eye out for signs of food poisoning. Make alternate dinner plans if needed... it might be a great night for take-out.
References: Recalls and alerts | What should I do if I have a product that has been recalled? | What Do You Do If You Have a Recalled Product?
