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. On Radius, every FDA recall is always free and never gated, and links back to the official notice. FSIS publishes its own recalls, also free, at fsis.usda.gov.

FDA vs. USDA recalls: who recalls what?

The FDA and USDA FSIS regulate different foods. Here's how the split works — and which recalls Radius covers today.

Updated Aug 25, 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.

What Radius covers today

Radius shows FDA recalls, drawn from the openFDA Food Enforcement data and refreshed continuously, each item labeled with its source and date. USDA FSIS publishes its recalls separately, and they aren't included in Radius yet — so for meat, poultry, and egg-product recalls, check the FSIS recall list at fsis.usda.gov directly.

Because the responsibility is split, checking a single agency misses part of the picture. Until FSIS recalls are included, Radius covers the FDA side only — and says so wherever recalls appear.

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. On Radius, every FDA recall is always free and never gated, and links back to the official notice. FSIS publishes its own recalls, also free, at fsis.usda.gov.

Check before you eat — get Radius at launch

Restaurant grades, violations, and food recalls, explained in plain English. Join the waitlist for early access.

← All guides