Food Recall Firms

The recalling firm is the company that initiates or is legally responsible for a food recall. This is typically the manufacturer, but it can also be a distributor, importer, or retailer, whoever holds legal responsibility for the product in the supply chain at the time the recall is issued. In cases where a product is made by one company and distributed under another's brand, the recalling firm may differ from the producer. The FDA identifies the recalling firm in every enforcement action record.

Under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), companies must immediately notify FDA when they have reason to believe that a food product is adulterated or misbranded. Once a recall is underway, the company must notify all direct consignees (distributors, retailers) to stop distributing the product, remove it from commerce, and provide a recall strategy to the FDA. The company must submit periodic status reports to the FDA until the recall is terminated. Failure to report known food safety violations can result in significant civil and criminal penalties.

Yes. Under FSMA, the FDA has mandatory recall authority for food products. If a company refuses to voluntarily recall a product that the FDA determines poses a serious health risk, the agency can order a mandatory recall. In practice, the vast majority of food recalls are voluntary, companies typically cooperate with FDA requests to avoid legal liability, negative publicity, and more severe regulatory action. Mandatory recalls are rare but do occur when a company contests the FDA's safety determination.

Use the search bar above to look up any company by name. The results show all FDA recall records associated with that firm, sorted by most recent. You can also use the Browse All Recalls page to filter by firm name using the keyword search. For ongoing alerts, the FDA publishes new recall notices on FDA.gov and sends email alerts through MedWatch. You can sign up for recall alerts by product category on FDA.gov.

After a significant food recall, companies typically face regulatory scrutiny including follow-up inspections by FDA investigators. They may be required to submit a corrective action plan (CAPA) detailing how the root cause was identified and what steps were taken to prevent recurrence. In serious cases, FDA may issue a Warning Letter, pursue injunctive action, or refer the case to the Department of Justice. Financially, large recalls can cost companies millions of dollars in lost product, legal fees, and customer refunds. Companies with strong food safety programs typically recover faster and with less lasting reputational damage.