Food recalls occur about every day. Most you don’t hear about or may not affect your grocery stores. In the event you have food in a recall, it is important to prevent cross-contamination by cleaning.
First, remove the recalled food from your storage location. Throw it away per instructions in the recall notice, or take it back to the store for a refund. Many stores will contact you about a recall or you may see a notice on your store receipt.
Clean counters, cabinets and refrigerator drawers and shelves. Use hot soapy water where possible. Then sanitize with a simple bleach solution of 1 tablespoon liquid bleach in 1 gallon of water. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a step-by-step guide to clean your refrigerator.
Don’t forget to wash your hands after cleaning and especially after handling the recalled food. Wash any towels and washcloths in hot soapy water before using them again.
Learn more at Recalls and Outbreaks from FoodSafety.gov.
