Article: published on 20 January 2026
Gary's checklist for recalled food products
- Published
This week legal expert Gary Rycroft shared his advice for dealing with food product recalls, including what to do if you've got an affected batch.
A number of brands have issued recalls recently, with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) reporting there was an increase in the number of incidents being classed as "medium" or "high" priority, external. Global trade means supply chains are becoming increasingly complex, and often requires more work from manufacturers to trace problems with products.
See below to find out more about what to do if you may be affected.
How to tell whether your product is affected
The FSA publishes a centralised, up-to-date list of food recall alerts, which you can access via its homepage, external. You can also sign up for their alerts service, external, which will notify you by text or email whenever they announce a new alert.
Manufacturers may also circulate notices on their social media, or physically present them in-store - usually somewhere easily seen, like a notice board or shop window.
In some cases the manufacturer will only recall specific batches of a product and list batch codes on printed or online notices. The batch code allows manufacturers to identify when a product was made, and in some cases, allows them to recall an affected batch.
The batch code may be printed by the barcode or best before date, but can sometimes be printed on the base of the box or tin.
What to do if you think you've bought a recalled food product
Do not consume the product. companies do not take these decisions lightly – if they have recalled the product, it is because there is a chance they have deemed it unsafe.
Be particularly mindful of high-risk foods such as baby food, infant formula, ready-to-eat meals and seafood. These may look fine, but only official recall information can guarantee safety. Always check these products, especially when serving them to young children or vulnerable adults.
If you feel unwell after eating something, contact your GP or 111. Keep a record of what you ate, when you ate it and any resulting symptoms.
Hold onto the product and its original packaging for a return – make sure it's out of reach so it's not unknowingly eaten by someone else.
Reach out to the retailer with the batch number to enquire about a refund.
What are my consumer rights?
The Consumer Rights Act 2015, external states that goods need to be of satisfactory quality, as described and fit for purpose. If a product has been recalled, then it is by nature not of satisfactory quality and you are entitled to a full refund.
As a consumer, your contract is with the retailer that you purchased the product from, even if it is the manufacturer that has issued the notice. Therefore, it is the retailer who is responsible for the refund.