Whether you a vegetarian, a vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, paleo or none of the above, one thing remains true—the safety of your food matters. While safe food sounds like a no-brainer, it seems impossible to find a food group that is truly safe. Not a day goes by when it feels like the media is announcing a new food recall for a different product. One day, it could over certain a vegetable, the next day over a dairy item and then prepared foods, pantry staples, and meat. It is important for all consumers to understand how food recalls work and how to keep yourself and family safe. The following are some of the most frequently asked questions Kansas City area residents have about food recalls:
Why is it that I hear about food recalls on almost a daily basis? There are two main reasons why consumers may feel like they hear about recalls on almost daily basis. First, the Food Safety Modernization Act requires that news outlets be made aware of any recalls. So if there is a recall in your area, your local news will alert you. Second, responsible manufacturers, the USDA, and the FDA want to try to protect the general public by alerting them of a potentially unsafe product.
What are the reasons that a product could be recalled? There are three main reasons why a food product may be recalled:
- Allergen-related problem: A food may contain a known allergen, like milk, peanuts, shellfish, or wheat and the label may fail to advise consumers of the allergen. For example, this month 543 cases of banana nut muffins were recalled because the product was labeled as lemon poppy seed and contained undeclared walnuts.
- Detection of a potential pathogen: Any time a product is found to pose health concerns. Recently, Kellogs recalled 10,000 cases of its Nutri-Grain Whole Wheat Waffles because the product is potentially contaminated with the Listeria bacteria.
- Detection of a foreign substance: A product may be recalled if the item could contain foreign matter. Earlier this month 99,000 packages of bread products were recalled by their manufacturer because they potentially contained clear plastic pieces.
What should I do if I think that I have a recalled product in my refrigerator or freezer? The first thing you need to do is to make sure that the package of recalled food product that you have matches the recall. The recall notice will let consumers know the name of the product being recalled, and which specific packages are affected (as identified by production dates, case codes, sell by dates, etc.). For example, this month Tyson recalled chicken nuggets, but only for its “fully cooked panko chicken nuggets” that were sold in 5lb and 20lb packages with production dates of July 18, 2016, and particular case codes. Once you determine that the product in your fridge or freezer is in fact a recalled product, do not eat the product. Follow the recall notice for how to obtain a refund or replacement item.
If you or a loved one became seriously ill after eating a product it is important to know that you may have legal recourse for the injuries you suffered. The attorneys at the Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. have helped countless injury victims, in both Kansas and Missouri, obtain compensation for their injuries. Our compassionate team of attorneys will make it a priority to fight for your rights and to hold then wrongdoers accountable. To schedule an initial consultation with one of our Kansas City Personal Injury Attorneys, contact Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. today at (816) 472-4673. We look forward to meeting with you and helping you in your time of need.