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Food Safety

Current Food Recalls in 2026: How to Check FDA, USDA & Canada Alerts

Find FDA, USDA and Canadian food recall notices, match the brand, UPC and lot number on your package, and learn what to do if your food is affected.

By Little Work Box EditorialPublished

Food recall guide illustration with a magnifying glass over a lot code and barcode on a grocery package.
Illustration. The barcode and lot number show where to look when comparing a package with a recall notice.

To check current food recalls, keep the package handy and look up the product on the official recall site for the country where it was sold. In the U.S., start with the FDA for most foods or USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service for most meat and poultry products. In Canada, check the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s notices. Then match the package size and any codes or dates listed in the notice before deciding whether it applies to your food.

What you need to know

  • Start with the official notice. Use FDA or USDA FSIS in the U.S. and CFIA in Canada.
  • Use the food type to pick a U.S. agency. Check FDA for foods such as salad greens and snacks. Check USDA FSIS for products such as ground beef or chicken nuggets.
  • Match the details on your package. Check the product name, variety, size, UPC, lot code, and any date or plant number the notice specifies.
  • If your food matches, set it aside. Follow the notice’s directions for disposal or return, and keep anyone from eating or serving it.

Where to check current food recalls

Go straight to these official listings when you want to see what’s been announced this week or find an update to a notice you’ve already seen.

The FDA’s public food recall list contains selected announcements. For a broader search, open the Enforcement Report and use Quick Search for the product or brand. Advanced Search can narrow the results by recalling firm, product type, recall number, or code information. A store brand and the firm listed in an enforcement record can have different names, so try the product name or the company named in the fine print on the label. FDA Enforcement Report

FDA vs. USDA vs. CFIA

FDA · United States

The Food and Drug Administration regulates most foods sold in the U.S., including produce, dairy, packaged snacks, and most seafood. If you’re checking a bag of spinach or a jar of peanut butter, start with FDA food recalls. FDA consumer guide to food recalls

USDA FSIS · United States

The Food Safety and Inspection Service covers most meat and poultry, processed egg products such as liquid eggs, and fish in the catfish order. A USDA inspection mark and an establishment number can help you check the right package. If a prepared meal’s jurisdiction is unclear, search both U.S. listings for the exact product. FSIS guidance on matching a recall · FSIS guidance on catfish and inspection marks

A recall removes an affected product from the market. A public health alert warns people about a potential risk and can be issued without a recall. Read the instructions in either type of notice. If the FSIS listing is unavailable, FoodSafety.gov brings together recent notices from both U.S. agencies. FoodSafety.gov recalls and outbreaks

CFIA · Canada

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency investigates food safety incidents, oversees recalls, and checks whether affected food has been removed from sale. Look up food sold in Canada through the federal recalls and alerts database, including imported products distributed in Canada. CFIA guide to food recalls and alerts

How to check food recalls by brand, UPC and lot number

Use the package and the notice side by side. Take a photo of the front label and the printed codes if you need to call a retailer or manufacturer.

  1. Write down the brand and full product name. Include the flavor or variety, the net weight, and the package type. A single bag and a multipack can have different identifiers.
  2. Find the UPC or barcode number. Read the digits printed under the bars, including any leading zero. The UPC identifies a retail product or package size. Many batches of the same product can share it.
  3. Find the lot code and date markings. Look for a stamped or ink-printed code near the best-by date, on a bag seam, on a lid, or on the bottom of the container. Copy the letters, numbers, and any punctuation. A date can be part of the lot code or a separate condition. For a USDA-regulated item, record any establishment number shown near the inspection mark.
  4. Find the original recall notice. Search the relevant agency by brand and product name. Try the manufacturer or a distinctive part of the name if you get no results. Open the notice and look for any newer expansion or correction.
  5. Compare your package with the affected-product entry. Read across one entry at a time. A matching UPC on one row and a matching date on another are insufficient. Check all the identifiers and any distribution details the notice specifies, including the country, region, or retailer. If your lot code is unreadable or the package is gone, ask the retailer or the contact in the notice before using the food.
  6. Follow the instructions for the affected product. A notice may say to discard it, return it, or contact the company. Use the instructions in the latest official notice. FDA guidance on identifying and handling recalled food

What a match looks like

Dated example · FDA posting, November 3, 2026. Snack Right Super Foods announced a recall on November 2 over possible thallium contamination. One affected item was Brad’s Crunchy Kale, Cheeze It Up, in a 2 oz (57 g) bag, with UPC 813104021877, lot 35025-3, and a Best By date of February 16, 2027. That combination identifies one entry in the notice. The notice lists other varieties with their own codes and directs consumers to discard affected bags. FDA posting of the original Brad’s recall announcement

Want to check a product?

Explore food recall and allergen notices using Little Work Box’s free Food Safety & Allergen Radar. Search connected U.S. FDA, U.K. Food Standards Agency, and French RappelConso records using details such as the brand, barcode, or lot code where available. Compare any matching record with the official source.

Open Free Food Recall Checker

What to do if your food is recalled

  1. Stop using it. Set the food aside so nobody eats it, serves it, or feeds it to pets. Follow the notice even if you already froze the food or the package looks normal.
  2. Follow the return or disposal directions. Keep a photo of the label and codes for questions about your package. The notice or retailer can tell you whether to return the product or dispose of it safely. Contact the retailer or the manufacturer listed in the notice if you need help identifying a package.
  3. Clean anything the food touched. Follow the agency’s instructions for washing and sanitizing affected shelves, containers, utensils, and work surfaces. Wash your hands afterward. FoodSafety.gov guidance for recalled products
  4. Seek medical advice if you feel ill after eating it. Tell your health care provider what you ate and share the notice or label details if you have them. FDA consumer guidance

Food recalls in Canada

Open the CFIA notice and check the Affected products section. Compare the size, UPC, and codes for your item, then read Distribution for the provinces or territories named in the notice. Check for updates if the investigation is ongoing. As CFIA traces a problem through the supply chain, additional notices can identify other products or brands. CFIA guidance on how recalls expand

For future notices, you can subscribe to Canada’s email alerts. Use the Canadian database directly for CFIA records. The Radar’s connected U.S., U.K., and French feeds have a different scope. Government of Canada recall subscriptions

Frequently asked questions

Does a food recall affect every product from the brand?

The notice defines the scope. It might cover a single lot, a range of dates, or all lots of a specific product. Check the variety, package size, and the codes or dates listed for that item.

Can I search food recalls using a barcode?

Yes, if a notice or checker indexes that barcode. A UPC can narrow the search, but you’ll still need the affected lot, date, or other details the notice specifies. An empty search result doesn’t establish that a food is safe.

Where is the lot number on food packaging?

Check near the best-by or use-by date, along the seal of a bag, or on the lid or base of a container. Look at the packaging photos in the notice if you find several codes and aren’t sure which one to compare.

How do I check for food recalls near me?

Use the distribution section of the notice and any retailer alerts to see where a product was sold. Your ZIP code can help with a local search, but you still need the package details to determine whether a specific notice applies.

Keep the official listings handy for future checks. You can also search the connected records in the Food Safety & Allergen Radar.

Sources & verification

Little Work Box Editorial checked the official guidance and the dated example on November 7, 2026. This guide explains how to look up recalls. The example is a snapshot of one notice. Recall information can change, so follow the latest official notice for your product.