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.

Undeclared Allergen Food Recalls

FDA Enforcement Data · FoodRecallFinder.com · 653 brands tracked · Updated weekly

What Is an Undeclared Allergen Recall?

An undeclared allergen recall occurs when a food product contains one or more of the major food allergens recognized by the FDA but fails to list them on the product label. This is one of the most common reasons for FDA food recalls in the United States.

The FDA recognizes nine major food allergens under the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) and the FASTER Act of 2021:

Milk
Eggs
Fish
Shellfish
Tree nuts
Peanuts
Wheat
Soybeans
Sesame (added by FASTER Act, effective January 1, 2023)

When a product contains any of these allergens without proper labeling, the FDA may initiate or request a recall to protect consumers with food allergies.

Why Undeclared Allergen Recalls Matter

For the estimated 33 million Americans living with food allergies, an undeclared allergen in a product they believe is safe can cause reactions ranging from mild discomfort to life-threatening anaphylaxis. Unlike contamination recalls where the risk affects the general population, undeclared allergen recalls target a specific and highly vulnerable group.

The FDA classifies undeclared allergen recalls as either Class I or Class II depending on the severity of the allergen risk, with the split nearly even in our database — 44% Class I and 50% Class II. For individuals with severe allergies, even a Class II-rated undeclared allergen recall can represent a life-threatening exposure in practice.

Common Causes of Undeclared Allergen Recalls

Mislabeling — wrong label applied to the product during packaging
Formulation changes — ingredient substitution without label update
Cross-contact during manufacturing — shared equipment or production lines
Supplier ingredient changes — undisclosed allergen in a raw ingredient
Packaging errors — correct product in wrong package

Undeclared Allergen Recalls in Our Database

FoodRecallFinder.com tracks 653 brands where undeclared allergen is the predominant contamination type in their FDA recall history. This represents the largest single contamination category in our database — accounting for more FDA food enforcement actions than any other recall type.

To view the full recall history for any brand including undeclared allergen 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
Do not consume it even if it looks and smells normal
Check the lot number and best by date against the official recall notice
Return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund
Report adverse reactions 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 undeclared allergen recalls visit FDA.gov directly.