Protecting families from contaminated food and water
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Protecting families from contaminated food and water
Posted in Food Safety,Our Blog on June 23, 2026
One morning you open your newsfeed and see a recalled product notice. You recognize it. You purchased it last week and it is sitting in your pantry, refrigerator, or freezer.
What do you do?
The answer is both complicated and simple. It all comes down to whether or not you or someone in your household has already consumed the product. If the product has not been opened or consumed, the process is quite simple. If there is a chance that you or a household member has already consumed it, things get a little more complicated.
But don’t worry just yet! Just because you have recalled product in your home, does not mean that you should start making reservations at the local hospital. You may get sick. Of course, that is a possibility. But oftentimes recalls are announced as precautionary measures and done so out of “an abundance of caution.”
Since that isn’t always the case, you should still follow the recall notice recommendations.
Here’s why!
But first, let’s talk about why products are recalled.
Announcements for recalled product occur for many different reasons.
Some of the more common include:
What do these mean?
Undeclared allergens are a major concern for those who are sensitive or have allergic reactions to certain food. These people rely on product warning labels and packaging. Their accuracy is crucial to avoid serious or even life-threatening allergic reactions.
In some cases, undeclared allergens are announced on recalled product because of “misbranding.” In these cases, the wrong product was put in a container or packaging that doesn’t match what is on the label.
There is nothing truly wrong with the product. It is only unsafe to consume if you have an allergy to the actual product inside the container. For example, chicken bacon ranch meal that contains dairy products may have been placed in packaging for spaghetti with meat sauce. A product that does not contain dairy. If someone with a milk allergy consumes the product, unaware that it contains dairy, they may become sick.
Foreign object contamination recalls happen when a non-food contamination ends up in food.
Common foreign object contamination items include metal shavings, pieces of wood, hard pieces of plastic, and rubber. These contaminants often make their way into food from defects in equipment.
Consuming foods contaminated with foreign objects can result in injury to the mouth, tongue, and/or throat. But also potential lacerations to the intestines and digestive tract. These injuries can quickly become life-threatening.
A product recall due to potential contamination can happen for several different reasons.
In some cases, the recall is initiated because of errors in processing. Improper canning or pH can leave the product susceptible to Clostridium botulinum bacterial growth. Many factors can go into this type of recalls.
Other times, surveillance testing reveals the presence of a foodborne pathogen in product samples. The FDA and state health departments conduct these types of surveillance testing. However, sometimes these recalls come about because the company also tests their products to ensure safety. When the presence of a pathogen is revealed, companies generally do the right thing and voluntarily recall their product.
Then there are outbreaks. When epidemiological data points to a common food source. A particular food product manufacturer, even before definitive proof, the company often chooses to initiate a voluntary recall. Out of an abundance of caution of course. Most of the time, while cooperating with health departments and the FDA, they conduct an investigation of their own to determine how it could have happened.
If you have recalled product in your home, you may be wondering what to do with it. It depends on various factors.
Do you have recalled undeclared allergen production in your home?
What do you do with it?
If you and everyone in your home do not have an allergy, you may decide to keep the recalled product and consume it to avoid food waste.
However, this can be risky. If there is a possibility (even a slim one) that someone (perhaps a guest or visiting family member) may consume the product without understanding the potential allergen risk, you should follow the recall notice.
Either throw it out or return it to the place of purchase as recommended. IF you do decide to keep the product, clearly label it with a permanent marker or in some other clear way that the product contains an allergen.
Personally, I observe all recall notices. Even for those like undeclared allergens that might not affect me personally. It is much better to be safe than sorry when it comes to the health and safety of those in your home.
When it comes to foreign object contamination, you do not want to take a chance. These injuries can be serious and life-threatening.
If you have already consumed some of the product, it is a good idea to hold onto it for a few days to make sure you have no issues with it. Bag it up and clearly label it so that no one in your household will consume it. Document the lot number information in case it is needed for traceback investigation purposes.
After a week or so, follow the recall notice’s recommendations. This may include throwing the product out or returning it to the place of purchase.
Salmonella, Listeria, Campylobacter, E. coli, and others have caused countless illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths. Regardless of whether or not a product looks, smells, or you have experienced no symptoms after consuming some of the product, you should cease consumption immediately.
It isn’t worth the risk.
What you do with recalled product depends on whether or not you have consumed any of it.
If you have not opened the product or have not consumed it, follow the recall instructions. This may mean discarding the product or returning it to the place of purchase.
If you or a family member have already consumed the product, it is a good idea to retain the product for traceback investigation purposes. Bag up the product (keep it refrigerated/frozen if it is a temperature sensitive food) and clearly label it so that no one in the household will unknowingly consume it.
If you have not become sick, hold on to the product for a few weeks in case you do become sick. If no one becomes sick, follow the recall instructions for handling the product.
Report your illness right away if you or a member of your household has become sick. Even if you experience mild illness. Contact your local health department and they can help you through this process. Reporting your illness can help narrow or expand the scope of the outbreak investigation. It can help prevent others from getting sick and reduce the spread of illness.
If you have become sick after consuming a recalled product, it cause undue stress and burdens on your life. You may be worried about what you should do.
It is a good idea to reach out to an experienced Food Poisoning Lawyer. A Food Poisoning Lawyer can help you understand your rights, point you in the direction of resources you need to help your situation, gather evidence on your behalf, and represent you in court if needed.
The Lange Law Firm, PLLC has helped families with situations just like yours recover millions of dollars in food poisoning and product liability cases. Call (833) 330-3663 today for your free, no obligation consultation. Or fill out the online submission form and someone will get back with you right away!
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)