Food recalls: What are they?

A recall is carried out for the protection of the public when a food is unfit for consumption.

For example, food may be contaminated with bacteria such as listeria found in cheese or pieces of metal found in ground meat.

A food recall is also indicated when it is not possible to ensure the safe consumption of a food. Often, the product packaging contains incorrect or missing information, such as the failure to declare the presence of an allergen.

Food recalls help to prevent food poisoning or allergic reactions in consumers.