Food recall, Food Safety Glossary

The removal of unsafe or non-compliant food from sale and distribution, coordinated in Australia by FSANZ. A food recall is the process of removing food from sale and, where needed, from consumers, because it is unsafe or does not comply with the law. Recalls can happen for reasons such as microbial contamination, undeclared allergens, foreign objects, chemical contamination or incorrect labelling. The aim is to protect public health by getting affected food off shelves and out of kitchens quickly. In Australia, FSANZ coordinates food recalls, working with food businesses and state and territory enforcement agencies. Recalls may be trade level, involving only wholesalers and retailers, or consumer level, where the public is told to return or dispose of the product. Traceability is central to a recall, because a business must be able to identify and locate the affected food quickly. For a food business, recalls work in two directions. If a supplier issues a recall, the business must check whether it holds the affected product, remove it from sale and use, and follow the recall instructions, which may involve returning or disposing of stock. Good receiving and supplier records make this fast and accurate. A business that manufactures or packs its own food needs a written recall plan as part of its food safety system, so it can act if its own product is found to be unsafe. This includes knowing what was made, where it went, and how to contact customers and regulators. Recall readiness ties closely to traceability and record keeping. A cafe receives a supplier notice that a batch of pre-made hummus is being recalled due to possible contamination. Using its receiving records, the cafe confirms it bought two tubs from that batch, immediately removes them from the fridge and display, stops serving them, and follows the supplier instructions to return the stock.