San Francisco Food Recall Response Checklist for Operators

Immediate Actions (First 2 Hours)

Upon notification of a recall from the FDA, FSIS, or CDC, immediately isolate all affected products in a designated quarantine area away from food preparation zones. Stop all sales and service of the recalled item and remove it from point-of-sale systems and menus. San Francisco's Department of Public Health requires you to document the date, time, and source of recall notification, plus the exact product name, lot number, and quantity on hand. Contact your direct suppliers to confirm whether your received inventory includes the recalled lot codes. Notify your management team and relevant staff to prevent accidental use of quarantined items.

Traceability & Documentation Requirements

San Francisco health inspectors expect detailed records showing where recalled products came from and where they went—this is traced through your supplier invoices and your food distribution logs. Create a written trace-back report listing purchase dates, supplier names and contact information, lot numbers, and quantities received. Simultaneously, prepare a trace-forward report identifying which customers or locations received the recalled item if it left your facility. California's Retail Food Code (Title 10, Section 6000 et seq.) and San Francisco's Health Code Chapter 81 both require this documentation be maintained for at least two years. Include corrective actions taken, such as removal from inventory or disposal methods used.

Customer Notification, Disposal & Compliance Reporting

If the recalled product was served or sold to customers, you must notify affected patrons through available contact information (phone, email, or posting at your location). Document all notifications made and retain proof of customer contact for health department inspection. For unsold inventory, arrange disposal through an approved method—incineration, burial at an approved landfill, or return to the supplier—and keep signed disposal certificates. Report the recall to San Francisco's Department of Public Health within 24 hours if the product involved poses a significant health risk; the health officer may issue a public notification. Maintain all documentation (supplier correspondence, traceability forms, disposal records, customer notifications) in one accessible file and have it ready when inspectors visit—expect a follow-up inspection within 3–5 business days.

Get real-time recall alerts to respond faster. Try Panko free for 7 days.

Real-time food safety alerts from 25+ government sources. AI-scored by urgency. Less than one bad meal a month — $4.99/mo.