What you should see in a food recall notice

Opinion | Roger Hancock & Vanessa Coffman

 Food recalls happen almost daily, but the way they’re communicated to consumers is far from consistent. Despite years of discussion and some progress from regulators (the FDA has provided guidance, and the USDA has their own template) there’s still no universal standard for recall notifications – both what they say and how they are disseminated. 

 Some companies do a good job writing and disseminating their recall notifications. Many do not. As a result, too many people find out about a recall too late. Official government announcements can be delayed, hard to interpret, or lacking critical details. This is not just confusing and frustrating to the consumer, it’s dangerous. 

 Consumers deserve recall notices that are clear, specific, and actionable. When done correctly, recall messages clearly state ...