What to do if you ate recalled food
Not medical advice. This guide summarizes public information from U.S. government health agencies for general education. It is not a substitute for advice from a doctor, pharmacist or other qualified health professional. If you have symptoms or questions about your health, contact a health professional. In an emergency, call 911.
It is a common and unsettling moment: you see a recall notice and realize you already ate the product. The good news is that a recall describes a risk, not a certainty. Many people who eat a recalled food never get sick. The steps below, based on guidance from the CDC, the FDA and FoodSafety.gov, will help you decide what to do.
Step 1: Stop eating it and confirm the match
First, make sure what you ate is really part of the recall. FoodSafety.gov notes that recalls are very specific, and all of the details must match: brand, product name, size, lot code and dates. If your package does not match, it is not part of the recall. Our guide on how to check if your food has been recalled walks through this.
If it does match, do not eat any more. Keep the rest out of reach of others, including pets. If you can, keep the package or take photos of the label, lot code and date, and write down roughly when you ate it and how much. These details help a doctor, and the FDA asks for them if you report a problem.
Step 2: Find out why it was recalled
What you should watch for depends on the reason for the recall. Read the notice or the Recall Radar recall page. The most common reasons fall into a few groups:
- Germs, such as Listeria, Salmonella or E. coli.
- Undeclared allergens, such as milk, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy, egg, fish, shellfish or sesame.
- Foreign material, such as pieces of glass, metal or plastic.
- Labeling or quality problems that are unlikely to cause harm.
The recall class also helps. A Class I recall is the most serious; a Class III recall is not expected to cause health problems.
Step 3: Know the symptoms for that hazard
Listeria
CDC describes two kinds of illness. Intestinal illness usually starts within 24 hours, lasts 1 to 3 days, and causes diarrhea and vomiting. Invasive illness, where the bacteria spread beyond the gut, usually starts within 2 weeks. In people who are not pregnant, symptoms can include fever, muscle aches, fatigue, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and seizures. Pregnant women usually have mild, flu-like symptoms or none, but CDC warns that infection during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn.
CDC advises contacting a healthcare provider if you ate food that was recalled or linked to an outbreak and you have a fever and other symptoms of listeriosis, such as fatigue and muscle aches. Tell them what you ate. If you ate possibly contaminated food and do not feel sick, CDC says most experts believe you do not need tests or treatment.
Salmonella
According to CDC, most people have diarrhea (which may contain blood or mucus) and stomach cramps, sometimes with headache, nausea, vomiting or loss of appetite. Symptoms usually start 6 hours to 6 days after infection and usually last 4 to 7 days.
E. coli
CDC says most people with an E. coli infection have diarrhea, which can be bloody or watery, and stomach cramps that can be severe. Some also have vomiting or a low fever. Shiga toxin-producing E. coli can trigger hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a medical emergency that can lead to kidney failure. Signs of HUS include little or no peeing, losing pink color in the cheeks and inside the lower eyelids, unexplained bruising, and unusual tiredness or irritability.
Allergens
The FDA says allergic reaction symptoms typically appear within minutes to a few hours and can include hives, swelling of the lips, tongue or face, vomiting, wheezing, dizziness and trouble breathing. A severe reaction is called anaphylaxis. Anyone with a known allergy who has symptoms should stop eating the food, consider their emergency medication (such as epinephrine) and seek medical care. See undeclared allergen recalls.
Step 4: Know when to get medical help
For Salmonella and E. coli, CDC lists these reasons to call a doctor:
- Diarrhea or vomiting that lasts more than 2 days.
- Bloody poop or pee.
- A fever higher than 102°F.
- Signs of dehydration: little or no peeing, very dark pee, strong thirst, dry mouth or throat, dizziness, or crying without tears.
CDC notes that dehydration can happen quickly in young children, so give them extra fluids and do not wait. In an emergency, such as trouble breathing or signs of a severe allergic reaction, call 911.
Who is at higher risk?
FoodSafety.gov lists groups that are more likely to get sick from contaminated food, and more likely to become seriously ill: pregnant women, children younger than 5, adults 65 and older, and people whose immune systems are weakened by illness or medical treatment. If you or the person who ate the food is in one of these groups, it is reasonable to call a healthcare provider sooner, even with mild symptoms.
Step 5: Clean up and get a refund
If the food was recalled for germs, they can spread to your kitchen. FoodSafety.gov recommends throwing out the food, washing cookware, utensils and cutting boards with hot soapy water, washing fridge shelves and drawers, and then sanitizing surfaces. It suggests a diluted bleach solution of 1 tablespoon of unscented liquid chlorine bleach in 1 gallon of water, then letting things air dry.
Then return any unopened product to the store for a refund, or throw it away as the recall notice instructs.
Step 6: Consider reporting it
If you think a recalled food made you sick, telling your healthcare provider is the first step. You can also report problems with FDA-regulated foods to the FDA; the FDA's food allergies page lists the details it asks for, including where you bought the product, what symptoms you had, and any codes on the label. Reports help regulators spot patterns and outbreaks.
Frequently asked questions
Will I definitely get sick if I ate recalled food?
No. A recall means there is a risk, not that every package is contaminated or that everyone who ate it will get sick. Watch for symptoms related to the hazard named in the recall, and contact a healthcare provider if you have symptoms or are in a higher-risk group.
Should I get tested if I ate food recalled for Listeria but feel fine?
CDC says that if you ate food possibly contaminated with Listeria and do not feel sick, most experts believe you do not need tests or treatment. Talk with a healthcare provider if you have questions, especially if you are pregnant, 65 or older, or have a weakened immune system.
How long after eating contaminated food do symptoms start?
It depends on the germ. CDC says Salmonella symptoms usually start 6 hours to 6 days after infection. Listeria intestinal illness usually starts within 24 hours, while invasive listeriosis usually starts within 2 weeks.
When should I call a doctor?
For Salmonella and E. coli, CDC advises calling a doctor for diarrhea or vomiting lasting more than 2 days, bloody stool or urine, a fever higher than 102°F, or signs of dehydration. For Listeria, CDC advises contacting a provider if you ate recalled food and have a fever and other symptoms such as fatigue and muscle aches. For severe allergic reactions or any emergency, call 911.
Should I keep the package?
If you can do so safely, keep the packaging or take photos of the label and lot code, and note when you bought and ate it. The FDA asks for these details when people report problems with food.