Food recalls can raise grocery prices — what shoppers need to know

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The list of recalled products from the Food and Drug Administration keeps growing, making headlines as shoppers continue to report foodborne illnesses.

On Sept. 22, more than 167,000 pounds of meat were recalled across the U.S.

So far in 2026, there have been 543 food and cosmetic recalls spanning several product categories, including fresh produce, infant formula, eggs, and more.

Despite the recent headlines, FDA data show that the number of recalled food and cosmetic products is currently about average compared to previous years.

Still, the health and financial fallout from these recalls is top of mind for many shoppers as they walk the aisles of their grocery stores and decide what to put in their cart.

What leads to a recall, and how does it affect consumers?

Food recalls happen when products are removed from the market for violating the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) or the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) regulations.

Recalls will typically occur if a food or product is contaminated with disease-causing microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, or parasites; foreign objects, such as broken glass or fragments of metal or plastic; or a major allergen that was not listed on the product label.

The consequences can be far-reaching and can lead to serious health complications and added pressure on your budget.

Higher prices for alternative grocery items

There is little evidence that suggests a recall will result in a higher price of the recalled item. However, a recall can sometimes push up prices for product substitutes or hurt demand, which can trigger price changes across that product category.

"Traceability can successfully remove contaminated products, but it cannot necessarily prevent consumers from losing confidence in the entire product category," said Sofia Berto Villas-Boas, professor of agricultural and resource economics at UC Berkeley. "A recall can therefore impose economic costs on producers and sellers whose eggs were perfectly safe."

In a study on the effects of the 2018 E. coli episode that impacted romaine lettuce, it was found that substitutes for contaminated romaine actually increased in price.

"In the early weeks, the supply disruption from removing/avoiding affected romaine was larger than the demand reduction," said Villas-Boas. "Consequently, prices of safe romaine actually increased, as did prices of iceberg lettuce, a close substitute. Sellers of safe romaine/iceberg were able to capture price premiums for roughly six weeks."

According to the CDC, there have been more than 11,000 reported infections of Cyclospora linked to iceberg lettuce, resulting in 495 hospitalizations and two deaths across 20 states so far. This is just one example of how quickly foodborne illnesses can spread and how devastating the impacts can be. For those affected, these recalls can lead to unexpected medical bills, prescription costs, lost wages for workers who have to take unpaid sick time, and more.

What to do if something you bought is recalled

First, confirm whether the item has actually been recalled. You can visit the USDA or FDA's website for the latest recall alerts and even filter by state, year, product type, and more. These alerts may include the serial number of the contaminated product, expiration date, or other identifying information to help you confirm whether your item is part of the contaminated batch.

In most cases, you can return a recalled item to the store where you purchased it, even if it has already been opened, to get a full refund. Some stores may require a receipt, though this isn't the case across the board.

You'll also want to make sure you dispose of the item in a way that keeps it out of reach from children and animals, and that you clean any contaminated surfaces or utensils, such as your refrigerator shelves, countertops, and cooking appliances.

As you're shopping for groceries, there are several ways you can work to reduce your overall grocery bill, especially if you're concerned about higher costs or having to swap your usual brands for pricier alternatives.

Shop your pantry and refrigerator: Recalls are not automatically a reason to clear out your entire kitchen. Take stock of what you have and read food labels carefully to determine whether an item is safe to keep. You might find that there's no reason to run to the store and start panic-buying alternatives just yet.

Join a loyalty rewards program: Many grocery stores, such as Kroger, Safeway, and Target, offer free loyalty programs that can give you access to personalized coupons, points, or rewards. Many of these programs can also be managed via a mobile app, which can be handy if you're trying to track down an old receipt in the event of an item recall.

Opt for generic store brands: According to "Consumer Reports," buying store brands over name brands can save you around 25% on your grocery bill. If a name-brand item has recently been recalled, it could be a good time to test out more cost-effective generic options.

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