Recalls

FDA vs. USDA recalls: who recalls what?

The FDA and USDA FSIS regulate different foods. Here's how the split works and why Radius merges both into one recall feed.

Updated Jul 1, 2026

Two different federal agencies handle U.S. food recalls, and which one is responsible depends on the type of food. Knowing the split helps you understand where a recall came from — and why you need to check both.

The FDA

The Food and Drug Administration oversees roughly 80% of the food supply: packaged and processed foods, produce, seafood, dairy, bottled water, dietary supplements, and more. Its Food Enforcement reports are the source for most recalls you'll see.

The USDA (FSIS)

The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service regulates meat, poultry, and processed egg products — the categories the FDA does not cover. A recall of ground beef, chicken, or a frozen dinner containing meat comes from FSIS, not the FDA.

Rule of thumb: if it's meat, poultry, or egg products, it's USDA FSIS. Almost everything else is FDA.

Why Radius merges both

Because the responsibility is split, checking a single agency misses half the picture. Radius pulls from both the openFDA Food Enforcement data and USDA FSIS recalls, normalizes them into one consistent format, and shows them in a single newest-first feed — each item labeled with its source agency and date.

Frequently asked

If a product has both meat and other ingredients, who recalls it?
Products containing meat or poultry generally fall under USDA FSIS, even if they also contain FDA-regulated ingredients. The agency that leads depends on the amount and type of meat or poultry involved.
Are recalls from both agencies free to view?
Yes. Recall information is public, and on Radius it is always free and never gated. Every recall links back to the official FDA or FSIS notice.

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