How to Manage a

FoodRecall

Food Safety Is Vital to Protect the Public, Your Business and Your Brand. Is There More You Could Learn About How to Handle a Food Safety Recall Should the Very Worst Happen?

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Food recalls can cause lasting damage to consumer trust, brand integrity and commercial viability. So put robust systems in place and arm yourself to the teeth with best practice.

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Top Causes of Food RecallsUndeclared Allergens, e.g. peanuts, milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, wheat, tree nuts, soybeans.

Mislabeling e.g. ‘organic’ or ‘wild caught’, incorrect or missing information.

Contamination e.g. through uncooked food, bacteria, chemicals, poisonous metals.

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Food Recall Classifications3

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Class One:Product may possibly cause serious health problems or even death. e.g. anaphylactic shock

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Class Two:Product may cause temporary or

medically-reversible health problems. e.g. swelling or rash

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Class Three:Product is unlikely to cause adverse health consequences.

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3 Food Recall Types

Voluntary Recall Requested Recall Mandatory Recall

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How to Handle a Food Recall

Having an automated food safety management system will help.

But it’s also important to put a strategy in place and act as

quickly as possible.

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First StepsDiscovery of Issue – Alert core recall team and secure the product

Initial Investigation – Define the nature of the recall

Risk Assessment – Determine the likely extent of harm to consumers, territory and brand.

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Complaint HandlingAlign your complaint-handling system with the core recall team

Prepare for complaints on media and social networks

Put a PR strategy in place.

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Market Withdrawal or Product CorrectionHow quickly can you act to avoid legal or regulatory action?

Are all parties contactable?

What is your system for ensuring action has taken place?

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Document ControlMake sure you have a communication audit trail

Put a verification method in place to confirm receipt of all communications

Have a clear centralized reporting system which can be available to the authorities.

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Ongoing PreventionReview reporting, recall processes and

manufacturing systems

Keep abreast of industry developments

Carry out mock recalls and include media experts.

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Takeaways

Make sure your food recall strategy includes media

relations.

Put in place effective systems – ideally automated

– to provide a clear paper trail for legal and regulatory

investigations.

Verification is vital. Communication, whether

by email or phone, needs a clear audit trail.

Sources:https://foodrecallseurope.wordpress.comhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34687221https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/aboutefsa

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Find Out How a Systematic Approach to Risk Management Minimizes the Likelihood of Food Safety Recalls. Download:

The Proactive Quality Guide to Embracing Risk

Download the eGuide now!

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