How To Tell if Your Food Is Part of a Recall, According to an Expert

If you’ve seen a lot of recalls in the news recently, you're not the only one. For years, I’ve covered food recalls and have written deep dives on foodborne illnesses, from why they happen to who is at the greatest risk.

The best ways to prevent food poisoning are to follow food safety protocols while cooking, and to stay vigilant about food that's being pulled off the shelf so you don’t eat something that's contaminated.

Beyond contamination with E. coli, listeria, and salmonella, food is also recalled because customers report finding foreign materials in the item, such as plastic or glass fragments. Other times, recalls happen because of labeling errors that could put people with food allergies in danger.

Regardless of what causes the recall, it's important to know whether that item is in your home and if it can potentially make you or a loved one sick.

How To Identify a Recalled Food Item 

In many cases, a company will report a food recall via a press release, which is shared with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In that press release, or any news article covering the recall, you'll find a range of different numbers.

1. UPC Code 

This stands for “universal product code,” a unique 12-digit number printed beneath the bar code on a product’s packaging. UPCs help manufacturers and retailers track sales and inventory.

It's important to note that the way the UPC appears on the package may differ slightly from how it’s shown in a press release or report. For example, there might be extra spacing between the numbers on the packaging. Don’t let that throw you off—if the numbers match, your item is part of the recall.

2. Lot Code 

Unlike a UPC code, there isn’t a standard number of digits in a lot code. Instead, a lot code, also known as the traceability lot code, is often shorter and may include letters and time stamps or date ranges. Essentially, this code allows manufacturers to trace contamination back to the source.

Lot codes can be found anywhere on the packaging, but often, releases will tell you exactly where to look for the lot code on the item. Sometimes, the report even contains visuals.

3. Best-By or Use-By Date 

Food product dating can be tricky to understand, but here’s the key thing to know: “best by,” “use by,” and “best if used by” don’t mean the food is unsafe after that date; they’re estimates of when the item might start losing its peak flavor or texture. These dates can also be helpful when identifying a recalled item.

You can typically find them on the bottom or the side of the food packaging.

4. USDA Mark of Inspection

Meat and eggs will have an establishment number inside a USDA Mark of Inspection on the package. As the name suggests, this stamp lets you know that the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service inspected the product. These numbers can also help identify a recalled item.