What Does a USDA Class III Recall Mean?

A Class III recall is a situation where eating the product is not likely to cause adverse health consequences. It's the lowest of FSIS's three recall classifications, typically reserved for technical violations rather than safety hazards.

Common Causes of Class III Recalls

Labeling errors that don't involve allergens or safety information (e.g., incorrect net weight)
Products distributed without proper inspection legend or mark of inspection, where no other defect is identified
Minor packaging or processing deviations that don't pose a health risk

What to Do If You Have a Class III Recalled Product

Class III recalls don't pose a meaningful health risk, so there's generally no urgent action needed. You can continue to use the product, return it for a refund, or discard it if you prefer — the recall is mainly about correcting a regulatory or labeling issue rather than protecting you from harm.

Class III vs. Class I and Class II

Class I — reasonable probability of serious health consequences or death. See our Class I guide
Class II — health consequences are remote or unlikely to be serious. See our Class II guide
Class III — not likely to cause adverse health consequences

Finding Class III Recalls

Use our USDA recalls search to filter for Class III recalls by category, status, or product name.