FDA vs USDA Food Recalls: What You Need to Know

Why Two Agencies Handle Food Recalls

The US food safety system is split between the FDA and the USDA for historical reasons dating back to the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act, both passed in 1906. The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) regulates meat, poultry, and processed egg products because the Department of Agriculture was already inspecting slaughterhouses. The FDA, under the Department of Health and Human Services, covers everything else: produce, seafood, dairy, packaged foods, beverages, dietary supplements, and pet food.

This dual-agency structure means consumers looking for food recall information often need to check two different databases. PlainRecalls solves this by aggregating both into a single searchable interface, browse recalls by agency or search across all agencies at once.

What Each Agency Covers

What the FDA covers: The FDA has jurisdiction over approximately 80% of the U.S. food supply by volume. This includes fruits, vegetables, seafood, dairy products, bottled water, packaged and processed foods, bakery products, dietary supplements, infant formula, pet food, and food additives. The FDA also handles food-contact materials (packaging that touches food).

What the FDA does not cover: Meat from cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, and horses; poultry (chicken, turkey, duck); and processed egg products. These fall under USDA/FSIS jurisdiction.

What FSIS covers: FSIS regulates meat, poultry, and processed egg products. This includes raw and cooked cuts, ground meat, sausages, deli meats, canned meat products, and liquid or frozen egg products used in food manufacturing.

The gray zone: Products containing both meat and non-meat ingredients create jurisdictional complexity. Generally, if a product contains more than 3% raw meat or 2% cooked meat, FSIS has jurisdiction. A frozen pizza with pepperoni technically falls under FSIS, while a cheese pizza is FDA territory.

FDA Devices

39,096
FDA Food

28,966
FDA Drug

17,683
CPSC

7,988
NHTSA

6,432

What this shows PlainRecalls tracks the FDA's food, drug and device recalls plus CPSC and NHTSA. USDA FSIS meat and poultry recalls are published separately on fsis.usda.gov and do not appear here, so there is no USDA bar.

How Recall Classifications Differ

Both agencies use a three-tier classification system, but the criteria and terminology differ slightly:

What it tells you: Class I recalls from either agency represent the highest risk, a reasonable probability of serious health consequences or death. These warrant immediate consumer action. Class II recalls involve a remote probability of adverse health consequences. Class III recalls are unlikely to cause adverse health effects but still violate FDA or FSIS regulations.

What it doesn't tell you: The classification alone does not indicate how many people have been harmed, how widely the product was distributed, or whether the contamination is confirmed or precautionary. A Class I recall for an undeclared allergen in a product sold at one store may affect fewer people than a Class III recall for a labeling error on a nationally distributed product.

How to use it: For Class I recalls, stop using the product immediately and follow the remedy instructions. For Class II, check whether your specific product lot is affected before discarding. For Class III, the risk is minimal but you should still be aware. On PlainRecalls, you can filter by severity classification to focus on the most critical recalls first.

Common Recall Triggers

FDA food recalls are most commonly triggered by undeclared allergens (the leading cause), pathogen contamination (Salmonella, Listeria, E. coli), foreign material contamination (metal, glass, plastic fragments), and labeling errors. The FDA can also issue recalls for foods containing unapproved additives or exceeding safe levels of contaminants.

FSIS recalls are most commonly triggered by pathogen contamination in meat and poultry, particularly Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat products, Salmonella, and E. coli O157:H7 in ground beef. Undeclared allergens in meat products are also a growing cause. FSIS maintains continuous inspection at processing plants, which can lead to recalls being initiated during routine inspection.

Understanding common triggers helps you assess personal risk. For example, if you have food allergies, undeclared allergen recalls (which span both FDA and FSIS products) are particularly important to monitor. Search PlainRecalls by category to find recalls relevant to your specific concerns.

What This Means for You: A Practical Framework

When checking food products for recalls, follow these steps:

Step 1, Search PlainRecalls first. Our database covers both FDA and FSIS recalls in one place. Search by product name, brand, or company to check across all agencies at once.

Step 2, Check the classification. Focus on Class I recalls first, these require immediate action. For Class II and III, read the recall details to understand whether your specific product is affected (check lot numbers, UPC codes, and best-by dates).

Step 3, Follow the remedy. Each recall notice specifies what to do: return the product for a refund, dispose of it, or contact the manufacturer. For meat and poultry recalls, do not consume the product and either throw it away or return it to the store where it was purchased.

Step 4, Sign up for alerts. For ongoing monitoring, subscribe to email alerts from FDA and FSIS directly, or bookmark PlainRecalls and check our recent recalls page regularly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between an FDA recall and a USDA recall?

The FDA handles recalls of most food products including packaged foods, produce, seafood, dairy, dietary supplements, and pet food. The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) handles recalls of meat, poultry, and processed egg products. The jurisdictional split dates to 1906 and means a frozen pizza with pepperoni could involve both agencies, FSIS for the meat topping and FDA for the rest.

Which agency handles more food recalls?

The FDA handles significantly more food recall events by volume, thousands per year compared to roughly 100-150 FSIS recalls annually. However, FSIS recalls tend to involve larger quantities of product (millions of pounds of meat or poultry) and are more likely to be Class I (most serious) because contaminated meat poses immediate health risks.

What does Class I recall mean for food?

A Class I recall is the most serious classification used by both the FDA and FSIS. It means there is a reasonable probability that the product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death. Examples include undeclared allergens in packaged food (FDA) or Listeria contamination in ready-to-eat meat (FSIS). Consumers should stop using Class I recalled products immediately.

How do I check if a food product has been recalled?

Search PlainRecalls by product name, brand, or company to check across both FDA and FSIS databases simultaneously. You can also check the FDA recall page at fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts or the FSIS recall page at fsis.usda.gov/recalls. For the most urgent food safety alerts, sign up for email notifications from both agencies.

Are food recalls mandatory or voluntary?

Most food recalls are technically voluntary, the company agrees to recall after the agency identifies a hazard. However, the FDA gained mandatory recall authority under the 2011 Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) for situations where a company refuses to cooperate. FSIS can also detain and seize adulterated products. In practice, virtually all recalls proceed voluntarily because the alternative is forced seizure.