Recalls are actions taken by a firm to remove a product from the market. Recalls may be conducted on a firm’s own initiative, by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) request, or by the FDA order under statutory authority, or by the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) in case of meat and poultry products. The purpose of a recall is to remove from commerce and thus prevent the public from consuming adulterated or misbranded products. Recall checks are conducted by our Environmental Public Health Sanitarian staff  to insure all products have been removed for public safety, using a combination of tools that include fax, e-mail, phone, and site visits. If any recalled products are seen on store shelves , please contact the EPHS staff at Butler County Health Department.

Recalls are divided into three classifications:

A CLASS I recall is a situation in which there is reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violated will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.

A CLASS II recall is a situation in which use of or exposure to a violated product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote

A CLASS III recall is a situation in which use of or exposure to a violated product is not likely to cause adverse health consequences.
The Environmental Public Health section of the Butler County Health Department will take preemptive action according to the classification of the recall and if it is requested by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services

For the latest information on food recalls, please go directly to the FDA’s web site.