Food Recall Consultant for readiness and response
Our food recall consultants and former auditors build your recall plan, drill it with mock recalls, and stand beside you if a real recall hits. When speed decides the cost, you are ready.
- A written recall plan and a trained recall team
- Mock recalls that trace product both ways in hours, not days
- Hands-on support during an active recall or FDA request
A 30-minute call with a recall expert. No cost and no obligation.
$10M
is the average direct cost of a single recall in an industry study by the Food Marketing Institute and the Grocery Manufacturers Association, before brand damage and lost sales. Speed and traceability are what keep that number down.
A recall is not the only option, and naming it wrong is costly
Four different actions get confused in the moment. Choosing the right one, and defending that choice to the FDA, is one of the first things we help you do.
| ACTION | WHEN IT APPLIES | WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU |
|---|---|---|
| Recall | Marketed product violates FDA law or poses a health risk | Remove or correct product already in the market, with FDA oversight |
| Market withdrawal | A minor issue not subject to FDA legal action, or no violation | You remove or correct product yourself, without an FDA recall |
| Stock recovery | Product has not left your direct control, still in your warehouse | Handled internally, and not classified as a recall |
| Safety alert | A product in the market may present an unreasonable risk | A public warning, often used alongside or instead of a full recall |
The three FDA recall classes
When a recall is initiated, the FDA assigns a class based on the health risk. The class drives how fast you move, how far you reach, and whether the public is warned. We help you assess it correctly from the start.
CLASS I - Serious risk
Use may cause serious adverse health consequences or death. This is the most urgent recall class and often requires broad public notification.
- Example: undeclared allergen, or Listeria in a ready-to-eat food
CLASS II - Moderate risk
Use may cause temporary or medically reversible health consequences, while the probability of serious adverse effects remains relatively low.
- Example: a drug or supplement slightly out of specification
CLASS III - Low risk
Use is unlikely to cause adverse health consequences but still violates FDA requirements and may require corrective action or product removal.
- Example: a minor labeling or quality defect
What the first 24 hours of a recall look like
A recall is won or lost in the first day. This is the sequence we drill with you, so that when it is real, your team runs it without hesitation. Steps 1 to 4 happen inside the first day. The Reportable Food Registry report is due within 24 hours.
1. Detect and verify
Confirm the problem is real and define the affected product and codes.
2. Convene the team
Activate the recall team, each with a defined role and authority.
3. Assess and classify
Judge the health risk, the class, and whether it is a recall or a withdrawal.
4. Report and notify
File the Reportable Food Registry report and notify the FDA and consignees.
5. Trace and remove
Trace one up and one down, and pull or correct product across the chain.
6. Effectiveness checks
Confirm every consignee received notice and acted on it.
7. Root cause and CAPA
Find why it happened and put controls in place so it does not repeat.
8. Terminate
Document disposition and work with the FDA to formally close the recall.
Your recall program, ready before you need it
A compliant recall plan is required under FSMA preventive controls and every GFSI scheme. We build the plan and the muscle memory to run it.
Written recall plan
A plan that meets 21 CFR 117 and your certification standard, with clear triggers.
Recall team and roles
A named team, a coordinator, and decision authority defined before a crisis.
Mock recall program
Scheduled drills that trace product both ways and reconcile quantities.
Traceability and lot control
One-up, one-down records that make a trace fast, tied to your FSMA 204 work.
Notifications and RFR
Templates for consignees, the public, and the Reportable Food Registry.
Root cause and CAPA
Investigation and corrective actions that satisfy the FDA and prevent a repeat.
What a passing mock recall looks like
A recall plan is only as good as its last drill. Auditors and buyers want to see a mock recall that hits real targets. These are the marks we build you to.
Most programs fail a drill for the same reasons: a lot code that does not link across records, a customer list that is out of date, or a coordinator who is on vacation with no backup. We find those gaps in a controlled drill, not during a real recall.
After each mock recall we give you a scored report and a short list of fixes, so your next drill is faster than the last.
How a recall actually works with the FDA
The parts that catch businesses off guard when they have never been through one.
Most recalls are voluntary and firm-initiated. The FDA can also request a recall, and under FSMA it has the authority to order a mandatory recall if a company will not act on a food that could cause serious harm. Acting quickly and voluntarily keeps you in control of the process.
You have to reach the right level of the supply chain, whether that is wholesale, retail, or consumer, and verify that each consignee received notice and acted. The FDA calls these effectiveness checks, and they are a common weak point. We build the contact process and the records that prove it.
If you determine that a food is a reportable food, one where there is a reasonable probability of serious harm, you must submit a report through the Reportable Food Registry within 24 hours. We build that determination and reporting step into your plan so it is not missed in the rush.
A recall is not over when product stops moving. The FDA terminates a recall once it is satisfied the action was effective and the product has been properly disposed of or corrected. We manage the documentation and the agency communication through to formal termination.
A written recall plan is required under the FSMA preventive controls rule for foods with a hazard requiring a preventive control, and it is a requirement in SQF, BRCGS, FSSC 22000, and other GFSI schemes. One well-built plan serves your regulatory and certification needs together.
- 3
- FDA recall classes, from serious to low risk
- 24hr
- To report a reportable food to the FDA
- 10M
- Dollars average direct cost of a single recall
- 30
- Minutes free consultation to get started
Support before, during, and after a recall
Build the plan, prove it with a drill, or get help right now. Every engagement begins with a free consultation.
Recall Plan and Team
A compliant plan and a trained team, ready to act.
- Before
- Written recall plan
- Recall team and roles
- Notification and RFR templates
- Traceability review
Mock Recall and Readiness
A drilled, scored program that satisfies auditors and buyers.
- Prove it
- Full mock recall exercise
- Scored report with fixes
- Effectiveness check process
- Annual drill schedule
Active Recall Support
Hands-on help when a recall is happening now.
- During
- Rapid risk and class assessment
- FDA and consignee communication
- Trace, removal, and effectiveness checks
- Root cause, CAPA, and termination
Meet the lead of our recall team
"In a recall, the winners are the companies that drilled it first. By the time you are reading the FDA request, it is too late to build the plan."
Dave Seddon, MBA, RDN, LDN, CFSO
Co-founder of FoodReady and a finalist for SQF Auditor of the Year named by the SQF Institute.
- 500+ audits
- Recall and traceability expertise
- FDA and USDA experience
Trace a lot in minutes, not days
A recall lives or dies on how fast you can trace product. FoodReady links every lot one up and one down, so a trace that takes a day on paper takes minutes on screen. When the FDA or a customer asks where a lot went, the answer is already there. Consulting builds the plan; the software makes the trace fast.
- One-click trace -Forward and backward from any lot.
- Consignee lists -Current customer contacts ready to notify.
- Mock recall mode -Run and score a drill in the app.
- Recall records -Every action logged for the FDA.
Dashboard
What food businesses say about working with us
"The traceability FoodReady provided with recording, tracking and searching historical data was excellent to aid in our SQF goal."
"What attracted Eurobake to FoodReady software is that FoodReady started with food safety and food traceability as its core. And because of this construct, it can easily be bolted on to accounting or manufacturing modules without corrupting or overcomplicating the data gathering process."
Food recall consulting FAQ
What does a food recall consultant do?
A food recall consultant helps you prepare for and manage recalls. That includes writing your recall plan, building and training your recall team, running mock recalls, setting up traceability, and, if a recall happens, guiding the risk assessment, FDA and customer communication, effectiveness checks, and root cause analysis through to termination.
How can a recall consultant help prepare my business for a potential recall?
Recall consultants create customized recall plans, implement traceability systems, and conduct mock recall exercises to ensure your business is prepared to respond quickly and effectively in case of a recall.
What are the main differences between FDA and USDA recall requirements?
FDA oversees recalls for most food products, while USDA handles recalls for meat, poultry, and egg products. Each agency has specific requirements for traceability, communication, and reporting that consultants help address.
How can a recall consultant help minimize the risk of product recalls?
Recall consultants assist in identifying potential hazards, implementing robust food safety and traceability systems, and conducting regular audits and mock recalls to minimize risks and ensure readiness.
What is the difference between a recall and a market withdrawal?
A recall removes or corrects marketed product that violates FDA law or poses a health risk, under FDA oversight. A market withdrawal is when you remove or correct product for a minor issue not subject to FDA legal action, or no violation at all. There is also stock recovery, for product still in your control, and safety alerts. Naming the action correctly matters, and we help you decide and defend it.
What industries benefit the most from having a recall consultant?
Industries such as food manufacturing, meat, poultry, seafood, and produce processing, dairy production, beverage companies, and packaged goods manufacturers benefit greatly from recall consultants to ensure compliance and protect brand integrity.
Do I need a written recall plan?
Yes, in most cases. The FSMA preventive controls rule requires a written recall plan for foods with a hazard requiring a preventive control, and every GFSI scheme such as SQF, BRCGS, and FSSC 22000 requires one. Even where it is not strictly required, buyers expect it. We build a single plan that serves your regulatory and certification needs.
What role does traceability play in an effective recall plan?
Traceability ensures that every product can be tracked through the supply chain, making it easier to identify affected lots, remove them from distribution, and communicate with stakeholders during a recall.
What is a mock recall, and how often should I run one?
A mock recall is a drill that tests whether you can trace affected product forward and backward and reconcile the quantities, usually against a target of full reconciliation within a set number of hours. Most standards expect at least one mock recall per year. We run the drill, score it, and give you a short list of fixes so your program keeps improving.
Can you help during an active recall?
Yes. If you are in a recall now, we help you assess the health risk and class, decide whether it is a recall or a withdrawal, file the Reportable Food Registry report, notify the FDA and your consignees, run the trace and removal, complete effectiveness checks, and manage root cause and termination. Speed matters, so the sooner we are involved the better.
How long does it take, and what does it cost?
A recall plan and a first mock recall usually take a few weeks. Active recall support starts immediately. Cost depends on scope, from a plan build to full crisis support. After a free consultation we provide a clear, fixed-scope quote for your situation.
Be ready before the recall, or get help during one
Book a free consultation. Whether you are building a plan or facing a recall today, we will tell you exactly what to do next.