Effectiveness Checks Now a Requirement for Meat and Poultry Recalls

By Brian Giannini

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) recently issued a new rule governing the recall of meats and poultry. While the directive received little attention in the media, it fundamentally changes how the USDA is able to determine whether a producer’s recall is effective. The directive—Directive 8080 Revision 6: Recall of Meat and Poultry Products—mandates effectiveness checks during the recall process in order  to further ensure that all recall managers follow instructions about product retrieval or product destruction.

Effectiveness checks have always been essential to a successful recall for manufacturers and retailers. There are typically two areas the agency wants to see handled effectively – call center operations and product removal from the marketplace. The agency wants to be certain that the company’s recall communications process is providing consumers and retailers with answers to their questions. And regulators want to be absolutely certain that products are off shelves and out of consumers’ hands.

This revision provides the FSIS an additional way to examine a food producer’s recall strategy and execution. According to the agency, the directive allows the USDA to “investigate if it appears that a firm’s recall strategy or execution of that strategy is ineffective and, based on its findings, FSIS may seek enforcement action against the recalling firm or its consignees.” Effectiveness checks allow both the food producer and the agency to ensure that consignees tasked with handling the recall follow the firms’ instructions for the recalled product. Through this directive, FSIS can make sure that tainted products are going exactly where they were meant to go.

For producers and manufacturers, these new changes reinforce the necessity for recall preparedness, recall planning and strong recall management. Companies should revisit their processes and ensure that effectiveness checks are part of its recall management procedures as this new directive will necessitate organization and close supervision during these critical times. Companies should also carefully consider how to segregate affected product from non-affected product on store shelves. Incorporating processes for this into their recall plan will help to ensure that tainted products are removed from the marketplace while good product remains available for sale to consumers.

Recalls can only be effective if managers at the recalling company and each of its consignees work together to identify tainted products and pull them off shelves. With this new and improved ability for the FSIS to oversee the recall process, now is a great time to solidify those working relationships, review internal procedures and rehearse internal communications during recalls.

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