Actions To Take If You Purchase Recalled Food
July 14, 2015 (Gephardt Daily) – You have most likely heard about the many recalls that have happened over the years, and the latest one recorded by the FDA is Whole Foods Vegetable Chili. What if you realize the recalled food is in your pantry? Or it is a product that you have purchased and already eaten? What do you do? The USDA’s Meat and Poultry has helped consumers with questions like these for almost 30 years, so here are some tips from the hotline.
FoodSafety.gov tells us that first thing you are going to want to do is identify the product. Food recalls are very specific. There is a possibility that you might have the same name brand or the exact product but it is in a different size or has a different sell-by date. You can check the recalls that have been announced on FoodSafety.gov
Bacterial contamination, foreign objects and improper labeling are a variety of reasons that a product can be recalled. If you have already consumed a product that was recalled check the reason for the recall.
If a product is being recalled because there may be a foreign object inside it you should certainly return it to the store. But if you have consumed it and you didn’t find the foreign object then you don’t need to worry about it.
If you have consumed a product which was recalled due to there being bacteria in it you are probably okay as long as you cooked it thoroughly, but be alert for symptoms of food poisoning and contact your physician if you feel you may have gotten sick.
Should you clean your kitchen? Yes, if you have been preparing a product recalled due to a food pathogen. According to FoodSafety.gov the proper way to clean your dishes is to wash all cookware and utensils, which includes the cutting board, with hot soapy water. Then clear off your counters and wash them also, afterwards wipe off the counters with a diluted bleach solution (one TBSP unscented, liquid chlorine bleach to one gallon of water), and let them air dry.
If you still have any questions call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-674-6854. The Hotline Food and Safety Specialists are available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern time.
Food safety information is also available 24/7, by going to “Ask Karen” their automated virtual representative at www.askkaren.gov. You may type your food safety question directly into the feature.
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