For Produce Shippers and Carriers During an Outbreak of Foodborne Illness

Shippers and carriers who have handled or are handling food recalled because of a link to a foodborne illness outbreak should:

• Determine what should be done with that recalled food. Consider the options (e.g., landfill, crushing, denaturing). Additionally, your supplier may have further instructions on what to do with the recalled produce.

The Sanitary Transportation of Human and Animal Food rule established requirements to prevent contamination of food during transportation.  It establishes the measures taken during transportation of food to ensure food safety, such as adequate temperature controls, preventing contamination of ready to eat food from touching raw food, protection of food from contamination by non-food items in the same load or previous load, and protection of food from cross-contact.

Resources:

• Recalls, Market Withdrawals, and Safety Alerts
• FSMA Final Rule on Sanitary Transportation of Human and Animal Food 

For Farms During an Outbreak of Foodborne Illness

Generally, farms who have handled or are handling food recalled because of a link to a foodborne illness outbreak should:

• Inform your customers of the recall
• Tell the FDA Recall Coordinator for your state, or if the recalled product is exported to the United States, then the recalling firm should contact ORA Headquarters.

University food safety extension specialists, state regulatory partners, food safety experts, government agencies, and trade associations may be able to provide additional information regarding recalls, including about factors that could contribute to contamination.

Resources:

• Recall Initiation Guidance
• Recalls, Market Withdrawals, and Safety Alerts
• Outbreaks of Foodborne Illness
• FSMA Final Rule on Produce Safety
• FoodSafety.gov