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Public Availability of Lists of Retail Consignees to Effectuate Certain Human and Animal Food Recalls: Guidance for Industry and FDA Staff

FinalCenter for Veterinary Medicine Office of Inspections and Investigations Human Foods Program11/20/2020

Description

This guidance provides information on how and when FDA intends to publicize the identities of retail consignees that may have received recalled human or animal foods. FDA will primarily focus on those recalls where there is a reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, the food will cause serious adverse health consequences or death to humans or animals, defined as Class I recalls, and where providing such information is needed to help consumers identify recalled food. Identifying retail consignees can be a time-consuming process that often involves obtaining information from multiple entities throughout a supply chain, including the recalling firm and intermediate distributors. Therefore, FDA’s goal is to collect, compile, and make public retail consignee lists for those food recalls where publicizing this additional information will be of the most use to help consumers identify recalled food and to determine whether that food is in their possession as effectively and quickly as possible.

Scope & Applicability

Product Classes

3
fresh fruits and vegetables

foods sold individually that may lack identifiers

animal food

Substances used in animal food evaluated for safety.; Substances intended for use in food for animals.

human food

Substances used in human food evaluated for safety.; Substances intended for use in food for humans.

Stakeholders

4
third-party delivery service

delivers food products directly to the consumer

intermediate distributors

Entities in the supply chain between the manufacturer and retailer; entities that do not sell food directly to consumers

recalling firm

The firm that initiates a recall or has primary responsibility for manufacture and marketing.

retail consignee

Identities of entities that may have received recalled human or animal foods; retail establishments that have received or otherwise possess recalled food and sell directly to consumers

Regulatory Context

Attributes

1
shelf-life

An increase in this attribute generally does not require a new 510(k) if protocols are met.

Identified Hazards

Hazards

1
foodborne illness outbreak

Public health risk the rule aims to mitigate; Public health threat requiring rapid identification of recipients

Related CFR Sections (3)

See Also (8)