What to do if you have eaten recalled food
Last reviewed 5 October 2026 against the sources listed below.
Many recalls are precautions, and allergy alerts only affect people with the allergy named. Even so, it is worth knowing what to watch for and when to get help.
If you have a severe allergic reaction
The NHS says to use an adrenaline auto-injector (such as an EpiPen) if you have one, then call 999 and say you think it is an anaphylactic reaction. Lie down. You can raise your legs, or sit up slowly if you are struggling to breathe. If symptoms have not improved after 5 minutes, use a second auto-injector. NHS anaphylaxis guidance.
If you feel unwell after eating it
The NHS says food poisoning usually gets better within a week. It says to call 111 if, for example:
- you are worried about a baby under 12 months
- you keep being sick and cannot keep fluid down
- you have bloody diarrhoea or bleeding from the bottom
- you have diarrhoea for more than 7 days or vomiting for more than 2 days
It says to call 999 or go to A&E if, for example, you vomit blood, have a stiff neck and pain when looking at bright lights, or have a sudden, severe headache or tummy ache. See the full lists in the NHS food poisoning guidance.
If the recall is for listeria
The NHS says listeriosis is more likely to be serious for anyone who is pregnant, newborn babies, older people and people with a weakened immune system. If you are in one of these groups and have eaten a product recalled for listeria, read the NHS listeriosis page and contact your GP, midwife or NHS 111 for advice.
If you feel fine
- Don't eat any more of the product, and check whether you have other packs.
- Keep the packaging (or a photo of the batch code and date). It helps if you get ill, return it, or report it.
- Follow the recall's advice to return it for a refund or dispose of it.
Reporting it
If you think food made you ill, you can report it to your local council's food safety team. See how to report a food problem.