Guidance Documents & Regulatory Information by Topic > Guidance for Industry and FDA Staff: Questions and Answers Regarding Mandatory Food Recalls

Guidance Documents & Regulatory Information by Topic > Guidance for Industry and FDA Staff: Questions and Answers Regarding Mandatory Food Recalls

FDA wants to take more advantage of its power to force food recalls

The FDA is planning to flex its power to pull tainted food from the market more often — even when a manufacturer doesn't agree to a recall. The agency — which has been criticized for not notifying the public quickly enough about food that might make people sick — just issued final guidance on mandatory recalls. Most food companies voluntarily recall potentially contaminated food, but some drag their feet. The new guidance outlines when, exactly, the FDA might move forward with a mandatory recall and what opportunities companies will have to take action before it comes to that.