Food recalls are very common and can impact a large number of foods. They can also be announced for many different reasons, ranging from danger to potential mild contamination. In fact, the largest food recall in history led to 3,200 products being pulled off shelves in 2008. But sometimes, with so many recalls going out, a recalled food will still find its way into your home. If you think you’ve eaten a recalled food, here are the steps you should take.
Don’t Panic
You aren’t going to die just because you ate a recalled onion. So the first thing you need to do if you’ve eaten recalled food is to stay calm. Don’t force yourself to vomit and don’t try to get the food out of your body in any dramatic way. Often, recalls are a precautionary measure to keep people from eating something that might make them sick. So there is a good chance that the food you just ate is actually fine. And in case it isn’t, you’ll need to keep your wits about you in order to deal with it.
Learn Why It’s Been Recalled
If you don’t know why the food has been recalled, you need to find out. The food industry takes quality very seriously. Even their water purification techniques are complex and ultra-efficient. EDI is used for things that need extremely pure water, including the food and beverage industry. So if something’s been recalled, it can be for a number of reasons. Some won’t even have to do with the food itself, but its packaging or the plants in which it was manufactured. So before you can decide what to do, you need to learn the details of this particular recall.
Watch for Symptoms
Unless the recall says to call your doctor immediately, you should be fine just watching out for symptoms on your own at home. Many times you won’t even have any symptoms, but it is always a good idea to stay alert for them. Look for digestive issues, like an upset stomach. Or keep an eye out for signs of an immune system reaction. Hives, fatigue, and fever could all signify that your body is fighting off something that might have been introduced by the recalled food. Once you know what is going on and what to expect, you can monitor any mild symptoms yourself. If the symptoms stay mild and go away quickly, you likely won’t need medical attention. However, if they get worse or you’re unsure what to do, you might need to move on to a doctor’s visit.
Call the Doctor If Necessary
If you have severe symptoms or just have any questions, you should talk to your doctor. They can address your concerns and give you advice on how to stay healthy. Your primary care doctor should be your first source of information about your own health and body. In fact, the American Cancer Association says that 3,000 new cases are diagnosed in the US each year. So, if you can trust your doctor to care for you through a cancer diagnosis, you can also trust them to help you if you get sick from recalled food.
There might be foods in your home that have been recalled. And you won’t always see the recall notice in time to avoid eating them. However, recalls can be announced for a variety of reasons, and accidentally eating something that’s been recalled is not a death sentence. If you’ve eaten food that’s been recalled, you need to stay calm and look to the recall notice and your doctor to tell you what to do next.
