Grassroots food safety: How consumers can help minimize recall impact

— OPINION —

By Roger Hancock

Food recalls aren’t just a headline or an industry issue — they affect real people every day. Maybe it’s a bag of salad you already ate, a snack your child took to school, or a frozen meal you planned for dinner. By the time many consumers hear about a recall, the product has already made it into restaurants, grocery stores and homes.

While companies and regulators are responsible for issuing and managing recalls, it’s consumers who sometimes catch problems first. Whether it’s a shopper spotting mold inside a sealed package or a parent realizing their child had an allergic reaction to a product without a warning label, real consumers have helped trigger recalls before major harm was done.

Food recalls aren’t going away — and consumer confidence in food safety has reached a record low — but grassroots consumer action can reduce their impact. While there’s unfortunately not much consumers can do to prevent food recalls, there are things that consumers can do to reduce the associated risks for themselves and minimize the overall impact of the recall. 

Consumers sometimes spot problems first
Some of the most impactful food recalls have started with a single consumer complaint. While food manufacturers have safety protocols in place, they don’t always catch everything. That’s why consumers are often the first to detect something is wrong.

It’s important to note that consumers don’t cause the problems that lead to recalls — most problems occur before the food reaches the consumer. However, consumers may be the ones to notice food safety issues, such as unusual odors, changes in texture or discoloration, compromised packaging, signs of tampering, unexpected allergic reactions, symptoms of foodborne illness etc. Reporting concerns directly to companies and retailers can trigger inspections and corrective actions before a full-scale recall is needed. 

Without consumer input, some contaminated products might stay on shelves far longer, increasing the risk of widespread illness. If you notice a potential food safety issue, don’t assume someone else will report it. Whether it’s alerting a store manager or contacting the brand directly, consumer action can prevent broader harm and impact.

Consumer action minimizes impact
One of the biggest challenges in food recalls is ensuring that consumers get the message and take proper action. While it’s the recalling company’s responsibility to communicate quickly and accurately, recalls are more effective when everyone, including consumers, respond swiftly, as delayed action increases illness risks. 

If you’ve purchased a product that’s been recalled, follow instructions for product disposal, return to the point of purchase for a refund, or take other actions as communicated. Don’t give the recalled products to others, including pets, and don’t donate or give them away. If you’ve purchased any food that’s been recalled — for any reason — dispose of it or return it to the store.

Some people may try to “remedy” the situation, for instance rinsing recalled produce to “wash off” the contamination. Rinsing recalled produce, like carrots, may reduce pathogens but might not eliminate them completely. Also, if you peel carrots that are contaminated with E. coli, Salmonella, or Listeria, you may spread these harmful pathogens around your kitchen, including your equipment, surfaces, and other foods. The best way to protect yourself and your family is by making sure you know and follow the four steps to food safety: clean, separate, cook, and chill. 

If you consumed contaminated products and have become ill — or had an allergic reaction from an undeclared allergen — seek care from a healthcare provider and report the incident to your local health department, the FDA, or the USDA.  

Grassroots action can help reinforce recalls at the community level. If you see a recalled product still on a store shelf, report it to the manager. If restaurants or food service providers are still using a recalled item, ask if they’re aware of the recall. Consumer pressure pushes businesses to act faster.

Consumers can drive change
Many consumers are alarmed with what seems to be a rising number of recalls. Keep in mind that the goal of food safety is to keep people from getting sick, and recalls are one way to do that. Recalls have increased, in part, because the industry is getting better at detecting contamination, using innovative tech solutions that improve product testing and monitoring, as well as accuracy, traceability, and transparency. Increased industry regulations — aimed at protecting food and consumer safety — are also resulting in more recalls. Often, these recalls are preventative measures rather than reactive ones, and the U.S. food supply remains among the safest in the world.

The key thing for consumers to understand is that not all food brands handle recalls the same way. Many food brands handle recalls properly and professionally — they respond quickly, communicate clearly, and work with regulators to prevent future incidents. Others downplay risks, delay communication, or fail to remove recalled products efficiently.

Brands that handle recalls responsibly deserve continued consumer support. But companies that fail to act quickly or don’t prioritize safety should be held accountable. Grassroots action — including calling out poor recall practices and choosing safer brands — can help push the entire industry toward better standards.

Pressure from the bottom up will help food safety policies continue to improve. Advocating for a food safety culture will have broad impacts on lowering the number of recalls and protecting public health. Consumer champions of food safety can help reduce the risk of people getting sick, improve recall effectiveness, and push for a safer, more transparent food supply. 

Recalls will always be part of the food system, but consumer action can help minimize damage. By reporting food safety concerns, responding quickly to recalls, and holding companies accountable, consumers play a crucial role in minimizing risk and protecting public health.

About the author: Roger Hancock, CEO of Recall InfoLink, is one of the world’s foremost experts on recalls, with experience that spans the retail, tech, data, regulatory, and supply chain.

Source: https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2025/03/grassroots-food-safety-how-consumers-can-help-minimize-recall-impact/