How the FDA Wants YOU to Fix Food Safety Recalls with Roger Hancock, CEO of Recall InfoLink | Episode 126

What happens when the FDA says, “Help us help you!” in the middle of recall chaos? You get an impromptu – and enlightening – episode featuring food recall expert Roger Hancock, CEO of Recall InfoLink. 

In this episode of Don’t Eat Poop!, our hosts Matt and Francine, together with Roger, dive into a recently released (and very quietly announced) FDA letter calling on the food industry to step up and collaborate on modernizing food recall systems – especially for products impacting babies and kids.

Spoiler alert: this episode is part policy analysis, part industry gossip, and part Roger being roped into a podcast live via a surprise call. You’re welcome.

In this episode:

💩 [01:07] Introducing Roger Hancock, CEO of Recall InfoLink

💩 [03:38] Roger breaks down the FDA’s 2025 recall modernization priority

💩 [05:55] FDA’s letter to industry leaders

💩 [08:00] When are you required to notify the FDA about a recall?

💩 [11:12] Is reporting to the FDA really that tedious? Roger spills the data

💩 [13:28] Recall communication protocols

💩 [16:12] Infant formula, foods intended for children, and allergens

💩 [17:32] The three pillars of every recall and why message delivery isn’t enough

💩 [21:14]  Increasing the speed of recall classification

💩 [27:12] Recall processes, standardizing data, and AI

💩 [35:37] Modernizing data submissions

💩 [43:16] Why consumers never hear about recalls

Disclaimer: Episode title and content do not constitute legal or health advice.

Resources from this episode

Take a look at the food safety news article we’re talking about today: FDA wants industry to suggest how to better use recalls for food safety

Behind the Scenes at the Food Safety Consortium with Rick Biros: Conference Culture, Compliance & Community | Episode 123

Alliance for Recall Ready Communities

Noteworthy quotes from this episode

“ The important part of recall, quite frankly, isn’t the message. The important part about a recall is the action.” – Roger Hancock

“ There’s a variety of potential outcomes for a defective product, but those three things are critical. Defective product, consumers that have purchased it, and instructions about what to do.” – Roger Hancock

This episode is sponsored by DeVere Chemical 

Have you ever tried to sanitize without actually cleaning first? Rookie mistake.

DeVere Chemical gets it, and they’ve got your back. These aren’t your typical “chemical guys.” They’re smart, fun, and dead serious about food safety.

Their products make it simple:

1. Remove the visible gunk.
2. Use the right cleaner for the job (please don’t use floor cleaner on food contact surfaces—gross!).
3. Give it the proper contact time.
4. Hit those hard-to-reach spots (even the ones no one wants to clean).
5. And don’t forget: if it’s not documented, it didn’t happen.

If you’re ready to stop cutting corners and start doing food safety right, check out DeVere Chemical.

They’re here to help keep your facility clean, compliant, and ready to roll. 

Let’s not forget… Don’t eat poop! 💩

Connect with Francine, Matt, and the “Don’t Eat Poop!” show on LinkedIn! 

Check out Francine’s book Who Watches the Kitchen? on Amazon!