The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides guidance for handling food that has been recalled.
Steps in handling a food that may have been recalled:
(1) Identify the recalled product including identifying specifics about lot and date.
(2) Identify the reason for the recall - pathogen, allergen, foreign material, improper labeling, etc.
(3) Determine if you have or had the product or product packaging in question.
(4) Precisely match your product specifics with the recalled product details.
If your product and the recall notice do not match, then you are not affected by the recall.
If the product has been consumed and your product container no longer exists, then see if you have evidence of a problem associated with the reason for the recall.
(1) If the cause was an allergy and if no one has that allergy or if people were asymptomatic, then nothing further need be done.
(2) If the cause was bacteria and if the food was fully cooked and if no one has become ill, then nothing further need by done unless someone becomes symptomatic.
(3) Contact a physician if a problem is noted that matches the reason for the recall.
If the product and recall notice match, and if you still have the product, then return it to the store where it was purchased.
If the reason for recall was a bacterial pathogen, and if your kitchen was exposed to the product, then properly clean affected areas and utensils with hot, soapy water. Wash countertops and surfaces with dilute bleach solution (1 tablespoon liquid bleach in 1 gallon of water).
