Federal Food & Drug Administration Enforcement Policies

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversees food, cosmetics, pharmaceutical and veterinary drugs, vaccines, dietary supplements and tobacco products. To ensure the safety of these products, the FDA tests new products, recalls contaminated material and regulates ingredients.

Reasons for Recall

• Producers may recall spinach tainted with the bacteria E. coli.

  Any food supply which an ad hoc committee of FDA members suspects presents a threat to the public health is subject to recall. The committee looks for evidence of illness in either human or animal populations, short- and long-term hazards and tests the items for known contaminants. If the committee finds a significant threat to public health, the FDA can ask for a recall.

Issuing a Recall

• Salmonella-contaminated eggs are among the products that have been recalled by producers.

  Recalls are voluntary actions taken by manufacturers to remove dangerous products from markets before they reach consumers. The FDA prefers to work with manufacturers for voluntary compliance rather than forced seizures. Seizures require court action, which then allows the FDA to forcibly take hazardous material from a company who resists following their recommendations. The distributing firm of the tainted product shoulders the responsibility of following the FDA recall protocol.

Regulating the Recall

• During a recall, producers are responsible for notifying the community affected by the recall, and reaching the broad population of consumers to notify them of the risk. Following the recall, the FDA follows up with the company to determine the methods of communication they used, effectiveness of the recall, speed of the recall, number of products returned and more. The FDA issues written notification of a recall termination once the investigation is completed and found to be compliant.