What Is a USDA Public Health Alert?

A public health alertis issued by FSIS when the agency has determined that a product poses a health risk, but a formal recall isn't possible or appropriate — typically because the product is no longer in commerce (for example, it has likely already been purchased and consumed, or the establishment is no longer in business).

How Is a Public Health Alert Different from a Recall?

A recall asks retailers and consumers to return or discard a specific product that is still likely available. A public health alert instead serves as a public notice: FSIS wants people to know about a potential risk even though there isn't a practical way to remove the product from the supply chain.

Despite not being a formal recall, public health alerts can involve the same serious hazards as a Class I recall — contamination with pathogens like E. coli, Salmonella, or Listeria monocytogenes, or undeclared allergens.

What to Do If a Product You Have Is Named in a Public Health Alert

1. Check the alert details for matching establishment numbers, lot codes, and dates
2. Do not eat the product if it matches — throw it away
3. Watch for symptoms of foodborne illness if you've already consumed it, and contact a doctor if you feel unwell

Finding Public Health Alerts

Use our USDA recalls search to filter for public health alerts by category, status, or product name.