Food Recalls & Allergen Alerts in Canada
Food recalls protect Canadians from unsafe products. Learn how to identify recalled foods, understand allergen alerts, and what to do if you have a recalled product at home.
Why Food Is Recalled in Canada
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) issues food recalls when products may pose a health risk. The most common reasons include:
Undeclared Allergens
Food contains an allergen (like milk, peanuts, or eggs) that isn't listed on the label. This is the most common reason for food recalls in Canada.
Bacterial Contamination
Salmonella, Listeria, E. coli, or other harmful bacteria detected. These can cause serious illness, especially in children, elderly, pregnant women, and immunocompromised people.
Other Reasons
Foreign objects, incorrect labelling, improper processing temperatures, or chemical contamination.
Understanding Allergen Recalls
Canada requires manufacturers to clearly label the following priority allergens:
- Peanuts
- Tree nuts (almonds, cashews, walnuts, etc.)
- Milk
- Eggs
- Wheat and triticale
- Soy
- Sesame seeds
- Fish and shellfish (crustaceans and molluscs)
- Mustard
- Sulphites (if 10 ppm or more)
"Undeclared allergen" means one of these allergens is present in the food but not listed on the label. This often happens due to:
- Cross-contamination during manufacturing
- Incorrect ingredient lists
- Recipe changes not reflected on labels
- Packaging errors (wrong product in wrong package)
If you have food allergies, sign up for free food recall alerts to be notified when allergen-related recalls are issued.
How to Identify Recalled Food
To determine if your food is recalled, you'll need to match several pieces of information:
1. Brand and Product Name
Check the exact brand name and product description match the recall notice.
2. Size/Format
Often only specific sizes are recalled (e.g., 400g cans but not 200g cans).
3. Best Before Date / Lot Code
Look on the bottom of cans, top of boxes, or crimped edge of bags. Match against the dates/codes listed in the recall.
4. UPC Code
The barcode number (usually 12 digits) on the packaging. Recall notices often include specific UPC codes.
If any of these details don't match, your specific product may not be affected.Search current food recalls to find the full details.
What to Do with Recalled Food
- 1Don't eat it
Stop consuming the product immediately, even if it looks and smells fine.
- 2Return for a refund
Take the product back to the store for a full refund. You usually don't need a receipt.
- 3Or dispose safely
If you can't return it, throw it away in a sealed bag so others (including pets) can't access it.
If You Already Ate Recalled Food
If you've already consumed a recalled product:
- Allergen recalls: If you're not allergic to the undeclared allergen, you're likely fine
- Bacterial contamination: Monitor for symptoms. They may appear hours to weeks later
- Salmonella symptoms: Fever, diarrhea, abdominal cramps (usually 6-72 hours after eating)
- Listeria symptoms: Fever, muscle aches, nausea (can take up to 70 days to appear)
- E. coli symptoms: Severe stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea (usually 3-4 days after eating)
When to Seek Medical Help
- • Bloody diarrhea
- • High fever (over 38.5°C / 101.3°F)
- • Signs of dehydration
- • Symptoms lasting more than 3 days
- • If you're pregnant, elderly, or immunocompromised
Call 811 (Healthlink) or see your doctor. For emergencies, call 911.
Official food recall information is published by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Visit CFIA