What Is a Listeria Recall?

A Listeria recall occurs when a food product tests positive for Listeria monocytogenes — a dangerous bacterium that can cause listeriosis, a serious infection particularly dangerous for pregnant women, newborns, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems.

Why Are Listeria Recalls Serious?

The FDA classifies the vast majority of Listeria recalls as Class I — the highest severity level — meaning there is a reasonable probability that consuming the product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death. Listeriosis kills approximately 260 people in the United States each year according to the CDC.

What Should I Do If a Listeria Product Is Recalled?

Stop using the product immediately — do not taste it to check if it seems safe. Discard or return the product — Listeria cannot be detected by sight, smell, or taste. Clean and sanitize any surfaces or containers that touched the recalled product, and watch for symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, nausea, or diarrhea, seeking medical attention if symptoms appear.

Spoilage Food Recalls

FDA Enforcement Data · FoodRecallFinder.com · 37 brands tracked · Updated weekly

What Is a Spoilage Recall?

A spoilage recall occurs when a food product shows signs of premature spoilage, fermentation, off-odors, swelling, or other quality defects that indicate the product is no longer safe or fit for consumption — even without a specific identified pathogen.

Spoilage recalls often involve packaging integrity failures, premature fermentation in sealed containers, or product degradation that occurs before the printed expiration date.

Why Spoilage Recalls Matter

The FDA typically classifies spoilage recalls as Class II or Class III depending on the health risk involved. While spoiled food is often unpleasant rather than dangerous, certain spoilage conditions — particularly in canned or vacuum-sealed products — can indicate dangerous bacterial growth such as Clostridium botulinum, which produces the toxin responsible for botulism.

Swollen or bulging cans and jars are a particularly serious warning sign and should never be opened or consumed.

Common Causes of Spoilage Recalls

Packaging seal failure — compromised seals allowing air or bacteria to enter
Inadequate processing — insufficient heat treatment during canning or sterilization
Temperature abuse during distribution — products exposed to improper temperatures in transit
Premature fermentation — unintended fermentation in sealed packaging
Container defects — manufacturing defects in cans, jars, or pouches

Spoilage Recalls in Our Database

FoodRecallFinder.com tracks 37 brands where spoilage is the predominant contamination type in their FDA recall history. Spoilage is the sixth most common contamination category in our database.

To view the full recall history for any brand including spoilage events use the search bar on our homepage or browse all brands A-Z.

What to Do If Your Product Is Recalled

Stop using the product immediately
Never taste or smell spoiled food to check if it is safe
Never open a swollen, bulging, or leaking can or container — discard it immediately without opening
Return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund
Report illness or product defects to the FDA at FDA.gov

Data Source

All recall data on FoodRecallFinder.com is sourced from the FDA Recall Enterprise System via the openFDA Food Enforcement API. Data is updated weekly. FoodRecallFinder.com is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

For the complete list of spoilage recalls visit FDA.gov directly.