Whether it is traces of an allergen or the risk of harmful bacteria, foods are recalled on a daily basis. What if the foods you serve are affected? Will you be aware of product recalls? Here are some sure-fire ways to stay alert and keep your food supply safe.
Sign up
Both Health Canada and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the USA have websites that trace product recalls. It’s important to sign up for both, since much of our food supply is imported from the US and abroad.
In Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency oversees product recalls. To stay up-to-date, sign up to receive food recalls and allergy alerts in your email inbox.
Foodsafety.gov is the FDA website for food safety and it offers extensive information about recalls. The current headline explains the recent multi-state outbreak of listeria in canteloupe, and explains where the affected items were sold. You can sign up to receive email alerts.
If you are social media savvy, you can also get updates on food recalls from Twitter by following:
Download
A widget, also called a snippet or gadget, is an online application that displays featured content directly on your web page. Once installed, widgets are automatically updated to display new information as soon as it is published, so you can keep informed without having to do anything. This CFIA widget brings together all recalls and advisories about consumer, health and food products issued by Health Canada, Transport Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). You can add the Government of Canada Recalls and Safety Alerts widget to your web page, blog and even certain social networking pages. Once installed, you can customize the widget to deliver advisories only on the topics you are interested in (for example, about food or medicine only).
If you have a smartphone such as a BlackBerry or iPhone, you can download applications (apps) that can help you stay alert to food recalls.
CFIA Recalls and Safety Alerts Mobile App
The Recalls and Safety Alerts app is available for Apple, Android and BlackBerry mobile phones. This free app allows you to access up-to-date and reliable health and safety information right to your phone. It includes the most recent recalls and advisories from Health Canada and the CFIA, and also provides you with the tools you need to report health and safety problems with products.
FDA Product Recalls Mobile App
When you’re buying and using products, safety comes first. This Product Recalls app provides vital safety information on your mobile phone. The Consumer Product Safety Commission, Food and Drug Administration, and Department of Agriculture monitor the safety of millions of products and issue hundreds of recall announcements each year on thousands of products. Now, those recalls are right at your fingertips with this helpful app. You can also see photos of recalled products.