Food Recall Plan India – Complete FSSAI Recall Procedure & Compliance Guide

In the Indian food industry, every Food Business Operator (FBO) must maintain a robust Food Recall Plan as per the Food Safety and Standards (Food Recall Procedure) Regulations, 2017. A Food Recall Plan under FSSAI ensures that unsafe, mislabelled, expired, or contaminated food products are immediately identified, withdrawn, and reported before they reach consumers.

Whether you’re a manufacturer, importer, distributor, or retailer, a well-structured recall procedure is essential to protect public health, comply with FSSAI food safety norms, and safeguard your brand reputation.

At MyFoodExpert, we help food businesses in India draft, implement, and audit recall plans as per the latest FSSAI 2025 compliance standards. Our recall experts provide ready-to-use templates, step-by-step recall procedures, and effectiveness checklists to make your business fully recall-ready.

Ensure your products stay compliant, your customers safe, and your reputation strong — with India’s most trusted FSSAI Recall Plan Experts.

Ensure your business recall-ready with a fully compliant FSSAI Recall Plan.

Get Your Recall Plan

What is a Food Recall Plan under FSSAI Regulations

A Food Recall Plan is a mandatory compliance document required by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) that outlines the step-by-step process for identifying, withdrawing, and reporting unsafe or non-compliant food products from the market.

In simple terms, it acts as a food safety emergency response system. It ensures that whenever a food product is found unsafe, contaminated, mislabelled, expired, or non-compliant, the Food Business Operator (FBO) can immediately trace, stop distribution, and remove it from all sales channels — protecting consumers and the brand simultaneously.

According to the FSSAI Food Recall Procedure Regulations, 2017, every manufacturer, importer, distributor, and retailer engaged in the food business must have a written recall plan in place. This plan helps maintain traceability, accountability, and regulatory compliance, proving that the business prioritizes consumer safety and product quality at every stage.

Why a Food Recall Plan is Important for Every Food Business

A Food Recall Plan is not just a formality — it is the backbone of food safety and regulatory compliance for every Food Business Operator (FBO) in India. The importance of this plan lies in its ability to protect consumer health, preserve brand reputation, and ensure compliance with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regulations.

When a food product is found to be unsafe, contaminated, adulterated, or mislabelled, immediate recall action is crucial. A robust plan ensures that such products are quickly traced, withdrawn, and reported — preventing harm and maintaining public trust.

A recall plan is a legal, ethical, and business necessity. It reflects an organization’s dedication to consumer well-being, food safety, and FSSAI compliance. Without it, a single recall incident can lead to massive losses, legal actions, and long-term reputational harm.

Implementing a strong plan is a proactive step that turns food safety into brand strength — and that’s exactly where MyFoodExpert helps Indian FBOs stay one step ahead.

Who Needs a Food Recall Plan in India | FSSAI Compliance for Manufacturers, Distributors, Retailers, and FBOs

Who Needs a Food Recall Plan in India?

Under the Food Safety and Standards (Food Recall Procedure) Regulations, 2017, every Food Business Operator (FBO) engaged in the manufacturing, processing, distribution, import, or retail of food products in India is required to maintain a formal Food Recall Plan.

A recall plan is mandatory for businesses handling food products that could potentially harm consumers if mislabelled, contaminated, expired, or otherwise unsafe. Ensuring recall readiness not only keeps your business FSSAI-compliant but also protects consumers and your brand reputation.

Businesses That Must Have a Recall Plan

  1. Food Manufacturers:
    Any company producing packaged or processed foods, beverages, or ingredients must maintain a recall plan to manage potential product safety incidents.
  2. Food Importers:
    Businesses importing food products into India must ensure imported batches can be traced and recalled immediately if found non-compliant.
  3. Distributors & Wholesalers:
    Companies distributing food products across regions are responsible for stopping distribution and notifying retailers during a recall.
  4. Retailers & Supermarkets:
    Any retail outlet selling packaged, perishable, or processed food must cooperate with recalls, segregate affected products, and inform consumers.
  5. Online Food Sellers & E-commerce Platforms:
    With increasing food e-commerce, platforms selling packaged or ready-to-eat foods must implement recall readiness procedures.
  6. Food Service Operators:
    Restaurants, catering services, and cloud kitchens handling packaged or processed ingredients may also require a recall plan for traceability and compliance.

 Why These Businesses Need a Recall Plan

  • Legal Compliance: Mandatory under FSSAI regulations; failure can lead to fines or license suspension.
  • Consumer Safety: Protects end-users from unsafe or contaminated food products.
  • Brand Protection: Reduces reputational damage during food safety incidents.
  • Operational Readiness: Streamlines the recall process with clear roles and responsibilities.

Key Components of a Robust Food Recall Plan under FSSAI

A robust Food Recall Plan is the cornerstone of food safety compliance for every Food Business Operator (FBO) in India. It ensures that unsafe, mislabelled, expired, or contaminated food products are identified, withdrawn, and reported efficiently.

According to the FSSAI Food Recall Procedure Regulations, 2017, a recall plan must clearly define the roles, responsibilities, and actions to manage a food recall effectively. Implementing these key components ensures your business remains fully compliant, minimizes risks, and maintains consumer trust.

Essential Components of a Recall Plan

1. Recall Management Team

  • Define a dedicated team responsible for executing the recall plan, including Quality Assurance (QA), Logistics, Communication, and Compliance Leads.

  • Ensure clear reporting lines and emergency contacts.

2. Product Identification & Traceability System

  • Maintain batch-wise records, barcodes, and lot numbers for all products.

  • Enable rapid identification of affected batches for recall.

3. Recall Decision & Authorization Process

  • Clearly outline criteria for initiating a recall, including contamination, mislabelling, or regulatory violations.

  • Define who has authority to declare a recall.

4. Notification Templates & Communication Plan

  • Pre-designed recall notices for FSSAI, distributors, retailers, and consumers.

  • Include instructions on “Do Not Consume” messaging and consumer guidance.

5. Segregation, Retrieval & Disposal SOP

  • Detailed procedures for isolating, retrieving, and safely disposing of recalled products.

  • Ensure all actions comply with FSSAI safety standards.

6. Recall Effectiveness Check

  • Verify that all affected products are recovered.

  • Document results of the post-recall audit and corrective actions.

7. Recordkeeping & Documentation

  • Maintain comprehensive records of the recall process, notifications, and corrective measures.

  • Essential for FSSAI inspections and legal compliance.

8. Continuous Improvement & Mock Recall Plan

  • Regularly conduct mock recalls to test readiness.

  • Update the plan based on learnings and FSSAI updates.

Food Recall Plan Checklist for FBOs in India

A Food Recall Plan Checklist is an essential tool for every Food Business Operator (FBO) to ensure full compliance with FSSAI regulations and readiness for product recalls. By following a structured checklist, businesses can systematically identify, withdraw, and report unsafe or non-compliant food products while maintaining consumer safety and brand credibility.

Implementing this checklist is a proactive measure to streamline recall processes, reduce risk, and demonstrate regulatory accountability under the Food Safety and Standards (Food Recall Procedure) Regulations, 2017.

Essential Items in a Food Recall Plan Checklist

S.No

Checklist Item

Purpose

1

Designated Recall Team

Assign responsible QA, Compliance, Logistics, and Communication leads.

2

Product Identification System

Maintain batch-wise traceability, lot numbers, and barcodes.

3

Criteria for Recall Initiation

Define conditions: contamination, mislabelling, expiry, regulatory violation.

4

FSSAI & Stakeholder Notification

Ensure timely communication with FSSAI, distributors, retailers, and consumers.

5

Consumer Communication Templates

Pre-approved notices with “Do Not Consume” instructions.

6

Segregation & Product Retrieval SOP

Isolate and withdraw affected batches from all points of sale.

7

Safe Disposal / Reprocessing Procedure

Dispose or reprocess recalled items in compliance with FSSAI.

8

Recall Effectiveness Verification

Confirm all affected products are recovered; record audit results.

9

Documentation & Recordkeeping

Maintain detailed recall records for inspections and legal compliance.

10

Mock Recall Drills

Conduct periodic simulations to test recall readiness and process efficiency.

How This Checklist Helps Your Business

  • Legal Compliance: Ensures adherence to FSSAI Recall Regulations.
  • Consumer Safety: Prevents distribution of unsafe or contaminated products.
  • Operational Efficiency: Streamlines recall procedures for fast action.
  • Brand Protection: Demonstrates accountability and builds consumer trust.
  • Audit-Ready: Ready for FSSAI inspections and internal compliance audits.

FAQ: Food Recall Plan & FSSAI Recall Procedure in India

1. What is a Food Recall Plan in India?

A Food Recall Plan is a documented procedure for Food Business Operators (FBOs) that describes how to identify, withdraw, and report unsafe, contaminated, expired, or mislabelled food products. It ensures compliance with FSSAI regulations, consumer safety, traceability, and brand protection.

2. Who needs a Food Recall Plan under FSSAI regulations?

All FBOs in India, including manufacturers, importers, distributors, retailers, online food sellers, restaurants, catering services, and cloud kitchens, are required to maintain a recall plan. Even small and medium-sized food businesses must comply with FSSAI recall regulations.

3. Why is a Recall Plan important?

A recall plan is crucial to:

  • Protect consumers from unsafe or contaminated products
  • Ensure FSSAI compliance and regulatory adherence
  • Maintain brand reputation and customer trust
  • Reduce legal and financial risks
  • Streamline operational efficiency in emergency situations

4. What are the key components of a robust Recall Plan?

A robust recall plan includes:

  1. Recall management team and defined roles
  2. Product identification & traceability system
  3. Recall decision & authorization process
  4. Notification & communication plan
  5. Segregation, retrieval & disposal SOP
  6. Recall effectiveness check
  7. Recordkeeping & documentation
  8. Continuous improvement through mock recalls

5. How to implement a Recall Plan under FSSAI?

Implementation involves:

  1. Forming a dedicated recall management team
  2. Documenting procedures for traceability, communication, and retrieval
  3. Conducting mock recalls to test efficiency
  4. Maintaining records and reports for FSSAI compliance
  5. Regularly reviewing and updating the plan

6. What is a Mock Recall and why is it necessary?

A mock recall is a simulated recall exercise that tests the effectiveness of your recall plan. It ensures the team is trained, procedures are effective, and gaps are corrected before an actual recall occurs.

7. Is a Recall Plan mandatory for small or medium food businesses?

Yes. All FBOs, including small and medium-sized enterprises, must maintain a recall plan to adhere to FSSAI regulations, prevent penalties, and safeguard consumer safety.

8. How often should a Recall Plan be updated or reviewed?

A recall plan should be reviewed at least annually or whenever there are new products, process changes, or regulatory updates. Regular reviews ensure ongoing FSSAI compliance and operational readiness.

9. What is the role of FSSAI in a Food Recall Plan?

FSSAI ensures that:

  • Unsafe food products are withdrawn from the market
  • Food businesses follow standardized recall procedures
  • Consumer safety is prioritized
  • Complete documentation and reporting is maintained for compliance

10. How to prepare a recall plan for a food business in India?

Preparation steps include:

  1. Identify all products and batches for traceability
  2. Form a recall management team
  3. Establish criteria for initiating a recall
  4. Create communication templates for FSSAI, distributors, retailers, and consumers
  5. Define retrieval, segregation, and disposal processes
  6. Conduct mock recall drills
  7. Maintain records and documentation

11. Step-by-step FSSAI recall procedure for FBOs

  • Identify affected batches using traceability records
  • Notify FSSAI, distributors, and retailers immediately
  • Segregate and stop distribution of unsafe products
  • Communicate to consumers with clear “Do Not Consume” instructions
  • Retrieve, safely dispose or reprocess products
  • Document all actions and submit recall effectiveness report

12. Food recall plan checklist template India

   A ready-to-use checklist includes:

  • Recall team assignment
  • Batch & product identification
  • Recall initiation criteria
  • Stakeholder notification & consumer communication
  • Segregation, retrieval, and disposal SOP
  • Recall verification and documentation
  • Mock recall exercises

13. Mandatory FSSAI recall plan for manufacturers and distributors

All manufacturers and distributors handling food products must maintain a recall plan as per FSSAI regulations 2017. This ensures traceability, rapid withdrawal, and regulatory compliance.

14. Online food seller recall plan compliance India

E-commerce and online food sellers must implement recall procedures for all packaged or processed products sold online to ensure FSSAI compliance and consumer safety.

15. Benefits of having a recall plan for restaurants and catering services

  • Prevents serving unsafe or contaminated food
  • Demonstrates regulatory compliance
  • Reduces legal and reputational risks
  • Provides structured emergency response for all food products

16. FSSAI recall plan guidelines and sample template

Follow FSSAI Food Recall Procedure Guidelines and use sample templates for:

  • Recall notification
  • Retrieval and disposal SOP
  • Consumer communication
  • Documentation and reporting

17. What triggers a recall under FSSAI?

A recall is triggered by:

  • Food contamination (microbiological, chemical, physical hazards)
  • Mislabelled or undeclared allergens
  • Expired products
  • Non-compliance with FSSAI standards
  • Consumer complaints or regulatory alerts

18. How to conduct a mock recall for food safety?

Steps to conduct a mock recall:

  1. Select sample batches for simulation
  2. Notify team as if a real recall occurred
  3. Execute retrieval, communication, and segregation SOPs
  4. Evaluate response speed, traceability, and effectiveness
  5. Update recall plan based on findings

19. How to prepare a recall plan for small food business in India?

Preparing a recall plan for a small food business in India involves:

  • Assigning a responsible person or small recall team
  • Maintaining batch-wise product traceability
  • Defining criteria for initiating a recall (contamination, mislabelling, expiry)
  • Creating simple communication templates for consumers and distributors
  • Conducting mock recall drills periodically
  • Keeping basic records and documentation for FSSAI compliance

20. What is the FSSAI recall procedure online for distributors?

Distributors can follow the FSSAI recall procedure online by:

  • Registering product batches on the FSSAI online portal
  • Receiving recall notifications directly from FSSAI or manufacturers
  • Stopping distribution immediately and notifying retailers
  • Updating the online portal with retrieval and disposal status
  • Submitting post-recall effectiveness reports online

21. How to perform a food recall plan effectiveness check in India 2025?

To ensure your food recall plan is effective in 2025:

  • Conduct mock recall exercises simulating real incidents
  • Check traceability, speed of notification, and retrieval efficiency
  • Evaluate team response and communication clarity
  • Document all findings and corrective actions
  • Update your plan based on lessons learned and FSSAI 2025 guidelines

22. What is a Mock Recall and why is it necessary for FSSAI compliance?

A mock recall is a simulated exercise that tests how quickly and efficiently your business can:

  • Trace unsafe batches
  • Notify distributors, retailers, and consumers
  • Retrieve and segregate affected products
  • Verify all recalled items are accounted for
  • Update and improve your recall plan

23. How to prepare a recall plan for restaurants and catering services?

Restaurants and catering businesses can prepare a recall plan by:

  • Assigning a recall coordinator for kitchen and inventory
  • Maintaining records of ingredient suppliers and batches
  • Developing customer communication templates
  • Conducting mock recalls for delivered or packaged meals
  • Ensuring FSSAI compliance and quick retrieval of unsafe items

24. What is online food seller recall compliance in India?

Online food sellers must ensure recall compliance by:

  • Registering products and batches with FSSAI online portal
  • Following manufacturer recall instructions
  • Immediately removing affected products from e-commerce platforms
  • Notifying customers using email, app notifications, or SMS
  • Maintaining records for audits and regulatory inspections

25. What is included in the FSSAI recall plan checklist 2025?

The FSSAI recall plan checklist 2025 includes:

  1. Recall management team assignment
  2. Product batch identification & traceability
  3. Recall initiation criteria (contamination, expiry, mislabelling)
  4. Stakeholder notification & communication templates
  5. Segregation and product retrieval procedures
  6. Safe disposal or reprocessing guidelines
  7. Recall effectiveness verification
  8. Documentation & recordkeeping
  9. Mock recall drills
  10. Continuous improvement updates

26. How to implement a food recall management system in India?

Implementing a food recall management system involves:

  • Using software or manual systems to track batches and inventory
  • Establishing clear roles and responsibilities for recall execution
  • Setting up notification workflows for distributors, retailers, and consumers
  • Conducting mock recalls and effectiveness checks regularly
  • Maintaining records for FSSAI audits and compliance