How to Avoid Contaminated Food and Ensure Food Safety During Recalls

In 2024, there have been multiple cases of food recalls and foodborne illnesses. While this is not an uncommon occurrence, recent food recalls stand out as the majority were Class I recalls.

According to the FDA, Class I food recalls are the most serious. Such foodborne illness outbreaks cause severe illness or death. Therefore, you must be proactive in spotting spoiled food, observe food safety during outbreaks, and adhere to food safety guidelines.

In this article, we offer consumer food safety guidelines during food recalls, whether you are grocery shopping or handling food at home.

Key Insights

• During the fiscal year that ended in September 2024, there were 179 Class I recalls compared to 145 Class I recalls reported for a similar period in 2023.
• In December 2024, SunFed recalled cucumbers in over a dozen states as they were linked to a Salmonella Outbreak.
• Furthermore, trustworthy reviews on Pissedconsumer.com indicate multiple cases of contaminated food bought from leading grocery stores such as Costco, Walmart, and Tesco among others.

How to Spot Bad Quality or Contaminated Food

Since contaminated or bad quality food is a common consumer issue, it is important that you know what to look out for. Below are easy-to-identify warning signs of contaminated food:

• Discoloration or discolored spots on meat, vegetables, and fruits
• Mold
• Bad odor
• Unusual texture of the food
• Damaged packaging such as leaking bags, broken seals, and torn boxes 
• Expired products 
• Frozen foods with freeze burns

For example, in a Tesco review #6099956, the customer could easily tell that their delivered groceries were contaminated. The carrying boxes and lemons had mold and ended up contaminating their kitchen.

Food Safety Risks: Symptoms of Foodborne Illnesses

Contaminated foods may contain harmful pathogens that can cause diseases such as listeriosis, salmonellosis, e.coli, hepatitis A, etc. 

While symptoms of foodborne illnesses vary depending on the specific pathogens, common ones include vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramping, fatigue, fever, and chills. In severe cases or when left untreated, foodborne illnesses can cause life-threatening conditions such as dehydration, kidney failure, meningitis, sepsis, or even death. 

How to Stay Safe During Food Recalls

Below are food safety tips for avoiding contaminated food.

Stay Informed

One of the best ways to avoid contaminated foods is to stay updated. Look out for notices of food safety recalls, outbreaks, or contamination warnings through reliable sources.

For example, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) usually posts detailed information on food investigations and recalls. You can find information about brands, stores and locations where intimidated products were spotted.

Source: fda.gov

Also, keep in mind that certain food categories are more prone to contamination. These include fresh produce, raw meat and poultry, dairy products, seafood, frozen food, and packaged ready-to-eat meats.

Inspect Food Before Purchase

Even if there haven’t been warnings about food contamination, it is prudent to always check for signs of spoilage, damaged packaging, or improper labeling when choosing products. 

Read food labels for expiration and “best by” dates and go for the freshest produce. Avoid any items that have a slimy texture or foul smell, as they are most likely spoiled. Items with torn seals or leaks expose the food to contaminants.

Follow Proper Hygiene

Observing hygiene practices at the grocery store minimizes the risk of contamination. It also creates a safer shopping experience for everyone. Begin by sanitizing your hands upon entering the store to prevent transferring germs to surfaces or items. Clean the handles of your cart or basket, as they are frequently touched and may carry contaminants. Most stores provide disinfect wipes or you can bring your hand sanitizer.

When handling produce, use gloves if available and avoid touching your face to prevent germs from reaching your eyes, nose, or mouth. To prevent cross-contamination, use separate bags for different types of items. For example, do not put raw meat in the same bag as seafood or fresh produce. Once done shopping, sanitize your hands.

Handle Food Safely at Home

Food contamination can also happen at home. Therefore, besides adhering to the safe grocery shopping tips discussed above, you must also observe food hygiene practices at home by ensuring proper handling and storage.

Here are food storage and handling safety tips at home:

• Wash fresh fruits and vegetables under running water before eating or storing them.
• Separate raw foods from cooked foods when storing.
• Refrigerate perishable foods immediately after you get home to maintain their freshness and prevent bacterial growth.
• Maintain refrigerator temperatures at or below 40F and freezer temperatures at or below 5F.
• Store raw items in airtight containers or plastic bags and place them on the lowest shelves of the refrigerator to avoid juices dripping onto other foods.
• Keep your kitchen surfaces clean and sanitized.
• Clean cutting boards and utensils thoroughly especially when handling raw food.
• Do not refreeze thawed food.

Cook Foods Properly

Cooking food to the correct internal temperature is crucial for preventing foodborne illness as it kills harmful bacteria such as Salmonella and E.coli.For example, the recommended internal temperature for poultry is 165F, while for ground beef is 145F. 

To safely store cooked food, let it cool slightly before putting it in shallow, airtight containers. Then, allow it to cool completely at room temperature and place it in the refrigerator or freezer. Do not leave food exposed for more than two hours after cooking and one hour in hot weather to prevent the multiplication of harmful bacteria.

Heat leftovers to at least 165F to kill any bacteria that may have started to grow during storage and ensure that the food is evenly heated.

What to Do If You Suspect Contamination

If you suspect your food is contaminated or of bad quality, stop consuming or serving it immediately. Separate it from the rest of the food and put it in airtight containers. 

Collect evidence

In review #5480704, one customer shared that they purchased ground beef in Costco that was brown inside.

The packaging was deceiving because the top layer looked fine, but it was brown all underneath.

Althought change in color can be normal for ground beef, however, you should carefully inspect such products. 

In case you suspect any problem, take photos of the food, its packaging, and any noticeable signs of contamination such as mold or discoloration for use as evidence when reporting to the store where you bought it or local health authorities.

Contact the store

Contact the store and inform them about the contaminated food. Most stores have a complaint-handling procedure and will provide you with the appropriate steps to take. You may also notify your local health authorities or government agencies such as USDA, CDC, or FDA about your food contamination concerns.

Keep your home safe

Meanwhile, sanitize surfaces and thoroughly wash any utensils that came into contact with the food. If you have refrigerated the food, clean and sanitize the shelves and inside walls of the refrigerator or freezer. 

Pay attention to your health

Closely monitor your health for any symptoms of foodborne illnesses and consult your health provider or visit the emergency room, if need be.

Properly dispose of spoiled food

In the case that the store or health agencies do not require the contaminated food for further investigation, dispose of it in a sealed, airtight bag or container to avoid exposing others to the harmful bacteria. 

Double bagging is recommended as an extra safety measure. You may also clearly label the disposal bag as “contaminated” to warn others who may come into contact with it.

Protect Yourself from Contaminated Food During Recalls

The key to protecting yourself from contaminated food is to be proactive. Since food recalls and foodborne illness outbreaks are quite common, you want to err on the side of caution. 

Regularly check government health agencies and retailers’ websites for updates on food recalls. Examine food for signs of contamination or bad quality and observe food hygiene practices, whether shopping or handling food at home.

It is also recommended to check online reviews for your preferred grocery supplier or retailer for consumer insights regarding food contamination.

What has been your experience with contaminated food? Write a review on Pissedconsumer.com.