Have recalled food at home? Don’t open it. Here’s what to do and how to get money back

Every now and then, a state or national agency, like the Food and Drug Administration, announces a recall for a food item, beverage, cosmetic product or medicine.

This could happen due to a variety of reasons — from product mislabeling to possible traces of a toxic chemical.

If a recalled product is in your cabinet, your pantry or your fridge, should you toss it out, demand a refund or report it? It all depends on the circumstances.

If the product you just bought was recalled, here’s what you can do:

Read the recall notice

You can find recall announcements for food, medicine, cosmetics and other consumer products on the FDA website or on recalls.gov. In California, you can find the list of food recalls of products distributed in the state on the public health department’s website.

These announcements will indicate when an item was recalled, its specific lot code and expiration dates, reason for its recall and what customers can do if they have the product in their homes.

Some of the most common reasons a product may be recalled include the following:

Undeclared ingredients

Some goods may be taken off store shelves because the company did not label a certain ingredient in the final product. For example, a collagen protein product was recalled because of “undeclared milk.” People who have milk allergies or sensitivities and consume these products may experience adverse reactions.

Presence of chemicals, contaminants or unsafe particles

Companies may recall their products due to the presence of glass, cancer-causing chemicals or food-borne viruses, such as salmonella and listeria.

Recently, Procter & Gamble recalled some of their Old Spice and Secret-branded antipersperants because of traces of benzene.

Poor packaging

Items may also be recalled due to inefficient packaging. A hand sanitizer in the United States, for instance, was called back because its container resembled a water bottle and posed a risk for consumption, which could lead to alcohol toxicity.

Toss it out, return it or ask for a refund?

The recall notice will outline what you should do with an unsafe or ineffective product.

Generally, if a food item has an undeclared ingredient or if it has contaminants or particles, the FDA and company involved will ask consumers to discard it.

Do not donate it to a food bank, give it to other people or feed it to your pets because they can get food poisoning too, according to foodsafety.gov, a website managed by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Also, do not open the product to check it.

“You can’t see, smell, or taste the bacteria or viruses that cause foodborne illnesses,” the DHHS said on its website. “If you do open or handle the product, remember to wash your hands thoroughly with warm water and soap for 20 seconds after handling it.”

Typically, you are able to return the product to the retailer you purchased the goods from to receive a full refund.

On the announcements, companies oftentimes have further information on how to get a refund online. They may also list a contact number that consumers can reach if they have questions about the recalled item.

Report adverse reactions or quality issues

If you used the product before or after the recall and notice adverse reactions or quality problems, you should report your experience to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program by submitting an online form.

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