Do Not Open Or Eat Affected Food
It goes (or should go) without saying that you shouldn’t eat any product that’s been recalled, but if you own it and haven’t opened it yet, keep it that way. Any contamination, be it bacterial or the inclusion of potential allergens, will not be detectable to the eye, nor will you be able to smell it or taste it, so opening it won’t do any good and will only increase the possibility of cross-contamination in your kitchen. If your product is already open, just be sure to wash your hands for at least 20-30 seconds with soap and hot water after handling it.
Do Not Keep Recalled Product
Assess the recall and see whether it encourages discarding the recalled product or returning it (for a refund) at the original place of purchase. If you discard the contaminated product, make sure that it is out of reach of any pets or animals that might try to get to it, as they can be affected as well.
It’s easy to go on a total ingredient overhaul when one of these recalls happens, especially with the ones that seem particularly bad, but don’t worry; with these pointers in mind, plus Foodsafety.gov as a back-up, you can move forward feeling confident in how to handle the next recall.