FDA Launches New "Consumer-Friendly" Recall Web Search
On April 4, 2011, the Food and Drug Administration launched a new consumer-friendly Web search for use during recalls, to make it easier and quicker for consumers to search for food and other product recalls on the FDA’s website.
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(Prior to launching the new Web search, the FDA consulted with stakeholder groups, including the Center for Science in the Public Interest, Consumers Union, Food Marketing Institute, Grocery Manufacturers Association, the Pew Health Group, and Safe Tables Our Priority to gain their insights on how to most effectively and easily communicate recall information to consumers.)
Search Results Will Now Provide Data from News Releases Since 2009
The FDA states that in order to provide greater ease of use for consumers, the search results will now provide data from news releases and other recall announcements in the form of a table. That table organizes information from news releases on recalls since 2009 by date, product brand name, product description, reason for the recall and the recalling firm. The table also provides a link to the news release on each recall for more detailed information. The news releases were chosen as the source of information for the table because they provide the most up-to-date and user friendly information about any recall.
Certain Search Results Will Also Provide Info on Recall Status
The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) called for a more consumer-friendly recall search engine within 90 days after the law went into effect. Pursuant to FSMA requirements, the search results for those recalls that FDA either ordered a mandatory recall or provided the opportunity for a voluntary recall will also provide status information on whether the recall is completed or on-going.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 04/06/11 news, 11040651, for BP summary announcing the availability of the site.
See ITT's Online Archives or 04/08/11 news, 11040822, for BP summary of FDA priorities, which include a new recall database.)