A written procedure that lets a food business quickly identify, locate and remove unsafe food from the market if a recall is needed.
A written procedure that lets a food business quickly identify, locate and remove unsafe food from the market if a recall is needed. A food recall plan is a written procedure that sets out how a food business will remove unsafe or non-compliant food from sale and, where needed, from consumers. It identifies who is responsible, how affected product will be identified and located, how customers and regulators will be contacted, and how the recall will be carried out and reviewed. Having a plan means a business can act quickly and effectively rather than improvising during an emergency. In Australia, FSANZ coordinates food recalls and provides the Food Industry Recall Protocol that guides how recalls are conducted. Businesses that manufacture, import or wholesale food are generally required to have a written recall plan and to keep records that support traceability, so affected food can be traced one step back and one step forward. A recall plan works only if the underlying traceability and record keeping are in place. For an Australian food business, a recall plan documents the recall team and their roles, the records used to identify affected batches, how to contact suppliers, customers and the relevant authorities, and how recovered stock will be handled. Many businesses test the plan with a mock recall to check they can trace a product and account for it within a reasonable time. The recall plan sits alongside traceability records, supplier and customer lists, and date and batch coding, all of which make a real recall faster and more accurate. Retailers and food service venues that do not manufacture food still benefit from a simple procedure for responding when a supplier issues a recall, so they can quickly find and withdraw affected stock. A sauce manufacturer keeps a written recall plan naming a recall coordinator, listing the batch and distribution records used to trace product, and giving contact details for customers and the state food authority. Once a year it runs a mock recall, picking a batch code and confirming it can identify how much was made, where it went, and how quickly it could be recovered.
Frequently asked questions
What is a food recall plan?
A written procedure setting out how a business will identify, locate and remove unsafe or non-compliant food from sale, including who is responsible and how customers and regulators are contacted.
Who needs a food recall plan?
Businesses that manufacture, import or wholesale food are generally required to have a written recall plan, and it should be supported by traceability records.
How does a recall plan relate to traceability?
A recall plan relies on traceability. Records that trace food one step back and one step forward let a business quickly identify and locate affected product.
What is a mock recall?
A practice exercise where a business picks a batch and checks it can trace how much was made, where it went, and how quickly it could be recovered, to test the plan.
Where does FSANZ fit into recalls?
FSANZ coordinates food recalls in Australia and publishes the Food Industry Recall Protocol that guides how businesses conduct a recall.
