UKFood SafetyLegally Required
Food Recall & Withdrawal Procedure
Procedures for withdrawing or recalling unsafe food from service.
What this document covers
If food you've served or sold is found to be unsafe, you have a legal duty to withdraw it and notify the Food Standards Agency. This procedure covers how to identify affected products, stop service, notify authorities, and trace affected customers.
Key sections included
- Recall vs withdrawal definitions
- Decision flowchart
- Product identification
- Stop service procedure
- Authority notification
- Customer tracing
- Record-keeping
Frequently asked questions
When would a restaurant need a recall procedure?
If you sell packaged food, supply other businesses, or discover you've served food containing undeclared allergens or contaminants. It's also needed to respond to FSA product alerts.
Document details
- Legal basis
- EC Regulation 178/2002, Articles 19-20
- Enforced by
- Food Standards Agency / Environmental Health
- Penalty for absence
- Failure to withdraw unsafe food: prosecution under EC Regulation 178/2002 with unlimited fines.
- Category
- Food Safety
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