In an effort to better arm customers with information, the FDA may soon start to include the name of retailers carrying affected products in food recall notices.
Last week the U.S. Food & Drug Administration released a statement saying they have issued a new draft guidance that outlines when disclosing retail information for products undergoing recalls is appropriate.
In the statement, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D. says, “The aim is to enable consumers to identify whether they have the recalled product and take appropriate actions.”
It’s important to know that the agency has not traditionally released lists of specific retailers where recalled foods may have been purchased. This is due to the fact that certain supply chain information is confidential between the supplier and retailer. However, generally speaking, “the information publicized by the recalling company is sufficient to allow customers to identify and avoid the recalled product.”
The release of the new draft guidance aims to further improve the FDA’s oversight of food safety and recall procedures. Gottlieb goes on to explain, “While we can’t prevent every illness, we can make sure we provide information to consumers to prevent more people from becoming sick from a recalled or hazardous food product.”