A product recall is the formal withdrawal of a food already on sale when it is found, or reasonably suspected, to present a risk to health. It is triggered by problems such as contamination with bacteria like Salmonella or Listeria, undeclared allergens, foreign bodies, or chemical contamination. The business responsible must notify the competent authority, trace every affected batch through its distribution records, and tell consumers directly how to identify the product and what to do with it, usually by returning it for a refund. A recall differs from a trade-only withdrawal, which removes stock before it reaches shoppers. Speed, accurate batch coding, and honest public communication decide whether a recall protects people or merely limits reputational damage.