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Who regulates food products?
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) within the U.S. Department
of Agriculture inspects and regulates meat, poultry and processed
egg products produced in federally inspected plants. FSIS is responsible
for ensuring that these products are safe, wholesome, and accurately
labeled. All other food products are regulated by the Department of
Health and Human Services' Food
and Drug Administration (FDA).
What is a food recall?
A food recall is a voluntary action by a manufacturer or distributor
to protect the public from products that may cause health problems
or possible death. A recall is intended to remove food products from
commerce when there is reason to believe the products may be adulterated
or misbranded.
Who decides when a recall is necessary?
Recalls are initiated by the manufacturer or distributor of the meat
or poultry, sometimes at the request of FSIS. All recalls are voluntary.
However, if a company refuses to recall its products, then FSIS has
the legal authority to detain and seize those products in commerce.
How are unsafe products discovered?
There are four, primary means by which unsafe or improperly labeled
meat and poultry products come to the attention of FSIS:
- The company that manufactured or distributed the food informs
FSIS of the potential hazard;
- Test results received by FSIS as part of its sampling program
indicate that the products are adulterated, or, in some situations,
misbranded;
- FSIS field inspectors and program investigators, in the course
of their routine duties, discover unsafe or improperly labeled
foods; and
- Epidemiological data submitted by State or local public health
departments, or other Federal agencies, such as the Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) or the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveal unsafe, unwholesome
or inaccurately labeled food.
As soon as FSIS learns that a potentially unsafe or mislabeled meat
or poultry product is in commerce, the Agency conducts a preliminary
investigation to determine whether there is a need for a recall.
What occurs during a preliminary investigation?
The preliminary investigation may include some or all of the following
steps:
- Contacting the manufacturer of the food for more information;
- Interviewing any consumers who allegedly became ill or injured
from eating the suspect food;
- Collecting and analyzing food samples;
- Collecting and verifying information about the suspected food;
- Discussions with FSIS field inspection and compliance personnel;
- Contacting State and local health departments; and
- Documenting a chronology of events.
How does FSIS notify the public when a product is recalled?
FSIS notifies the public through a press release for Class I and Class
II recalls, and a Recall Notification Report (RNR) for Class III recalls.
(The RNR provides substantially the same information as the press
release; however, the format is different.) The press release is issued
to media outlets in the areas where the product was distributed, and
is also distributed through an email listserv.
The press release or RNR is posted on the FSIS Web site. When possible,
FSIS also includes pictures of the recalled product as part of the
online recall press release. Recall press releases and RNRs are posted
on the FSIS Recalls area of the Web site, at www.fsis.usda.gov/Fsis_Recalls/
Open_Federal_Cases/index.asp.
The public can request to receive FSIS press releases and recall announcements
by subscribing to the Agency's email subscription service. For more
information or to subscribe, go to www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Email_Subscription/
index.asp. FSIS' newsletters, including the Constituent Update,
are also available via email subscription at www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Newsletters/
index.asp.
If the recalled product was purchased by USDA and distributed through
a food distribution program, such as the National School Lunch Program,
FSIS notifies the Federal agency responsible for the food program,
and that agency will hold the product.
What is FSIS' role during a recall?
When there is reason to believe that adulterated or misbranded product
has entered commerce, the FSIS Recall Management Division convenes
the Recall Committee, a standing committee within FSIS. The Committee,
consisting of FSIS scientists, technical experts, field inspection
managers, enforcement personnel and communications specialists, evaluates
all available information and then makes recommendations to the company
about the need for a
recall.
If the Recall Committee recommends a recall, the Committee classifies
the recall based on the relative health risk, as follows:
- Class I - A Class I recall involves a health
hazard situation in which there is a reasonable probability
that eating the food will cause health problems or death.
- Class II - A Class II recall involves a potential
health hazard situation in which there is a remote probability
of adverse health consequences from eating the food.
- Class III - A Class III recall involves a situation
in which eating the food will not cause adverse health consequences.
In addition to determining the class of the recall, the Recall Committee
verifies that the company has identified production and distribution
information to facilitate the recall.
The Recall Committee advises the company of its recommendation and
also provides an opportunity for the firm to offer any information
it wishes FSIS to consider regarding the recall after completing its
investigation.
How does FSIS ensure that a recall is effective?
FSIS field enforcement personnel conduct "effectiveness checks" to
ensure that the recalling firm makes all reasonable efforts to notify
the consignees of the recalled product that there is a need to remove
the product from commerce. FSIS conducts a sufficient number of effectiveness
checks to verify that the recalling firm is contacting its consignees.
If FSIS determines that the recalling firm has contacted its consignees,
or has made all reasonable efforts to do so, the Agency notifies the
firm that the recall is complete and no further action is expected.
Does FSIS keep documentation on recalls?
The Recall Management Division maintains comprehensive case files
for all recalls coordinated by FSIS. Information on open and closed
Federal cases can be found on the FSIS Web site at www.fsis.usda.gov/Fsis_Recalls/index.asp.
Where else can consumers find information on recalls?
For additional information on recalls of food and other products,
consumers may receive information from the following:
In addition, for general recall information as well as food safety
information, see "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative, at:
www.fsis.usda.gov/Food_Safety_Education/
Ask_Karen/index.asp#Question. |
Last Modified:
March 22, 2006 |
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