Everything to know about product recalls - including when you can claim compensation

We have lots of laws and regulations in the UK that relate to safety. These include additives in food, fire safety, cross contamination (things that can prompt serious allergic reactions, like peanuts), materials that can and can’t be used to make things and standards of manufacture that must be followed for things that are sold in the UK.

Yet sometimes things go wrong and products have to be recalled. Product recalls have increased in number in recent years. That doesn’t mean things are getting worse though. In many ways, the fact that more stringent tests and checks are in place is a good thing.

However, product recalls can often reveal surprising things about the supply chain of some goods that we didn’t realise. For example, just three situations resulted in the recall of 424 food and drink products in 2024. That’s because many supermarkets use the same factories or ingredients for their products, from top-of-the-range items to ‘own brand’ options. That’s something to think about if you want to save some cash by buying the cheap brands!

So how do product recalls work and what can you do if you’ve bought something that’s not safe? Here’s my guide.

Product recalls are expensive and bad for the reputation for businesses, so goods aren’t recalled lightly. However, businesses can’t brush problems with products under the carpet if there are safety concerns. Failure to recall products that could be dangerous can result in huge fines or even prosecution.

Having said that, most recalls relate to goods that might be of risk, rather than ones where something dire has been discovered. So that means they are being cautious rather than complacent.

Recalls are either voluntary, where a business has spotted that something might have gone wrong, or compulsory, where they have been told to recall the items in question.

Because of data protection and the fact that we may pay for many goods in cash, it’s hard for businesses to establish who might have bought products that have been recalled. There may be a record of who has bought ‘big ticket’ items, like washing machines or sofas, thanks to manufacturers’ guarantees that you register when you receive the goods. But most recalls are smaller value items, which means businesses have to rely on advertisements, notices on their websites and news stories for more serious recalls.

If you want to find out what products have been recalled, start with the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) who have product recalls on their website. https://www.tradingstandards.uk/consumer-help/product-recalls-and-safety-notices/

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is the UK’s national product regulator and is part of the Department for Business and Trade (DBT). The OPSS has guidance for consumers on its website and a list of the latest product recalls here.

The Gov.uk product recalls website gives advice on the three different types of product recall:

• For specific products that have been sold in the UK and may require you to act to receive a free replacement, repair or refund from the manufacturer or a retailer.
• Product safety reports – These are for specific products found in the UK where corrective measures other than a recall have either been ordered by an authority or are being undertaken by a business.
• Product safety alerts – These highlight product categories or sectors in the UK with risks of serious injury or fatality and where immediate steps are requested by OPSS from businesses, authorities and possibly consumers.

However, this is where things get complicated. Because of the sheer range of products that are sold, from cars to cauliflower cheese, there are a range of other agencies, regulators and official organisations that set rules around product safety and recalls.

As a consequence, you may find more information about specific recalls on the website of one of these organisations, like the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) for problems with motor vehicles.

Product recalls affect specific brands – but not all of those brands will have been recalled. Before you panic, check out the details on the product recall notice. This will provide the specific identification codes or product number, or even timeframes when the goods might have been on sale.

Once you’ve established if the item you purchased is part of a recall, check out the guidance on the recall notice about what happens next. For smaller items, like groceries, the advice is usually to return the item to the place you purchased it for a refund.

Larger goods are usually part of a more involved recall scheme. It’s not feasible to take a faulty washing machine back to the shop on your roof rack. So the manufacturer will come up with a scheme to repair or replace these items. This can sometimes take quite a bit of time, depending on how many people are affected.

Some recalls relate to faults that pose a very real risk to the purchaser. We’ve seen washing machines that could burst in to flames, cars that have faulty braking systems and goods that potentially contain glass.

In the first two scenarios, the items have serious faults that mean they must not be turned on, plugged in or used under any circumstances. This can be very frustrating, because you may not be able to replace the item until the manufacturer or retailer examines or removes the item. You could find yourself stuck with a faulty dishwasher that you can’t use for months or even years.

You may find that if you made the purchase within the first six months, your shopping rights come in to play. That means you could demand a refund if the repair or replacement isn’t carried out urgently. If lots of people are affected though, this may prove challenging.

But what if you’ve consumed a potentially dangerous food or drink item that’s been recalled? Contact your doctor or a walk-in/call-in health service as soon as possible if you are worried. I’d recommend keeping copies of your interactions with doctors though, in case you decide to pursue a complaint for compensation if your health has been affected.

Yes, but don’t get too excited. Compensation for product recalls tends not to be offered unless the situation is serious.

If you’re returning a cross-contaminated microwave meal, for example, you might get a small shopping voucher if you complain, to reflect the inconvenience, but these rarely go over a tenner.

However, you can seek compensation if you have been financially inconvenienced by a product recall. Again, this must represent realistic costs. So if your car is recalled but you need to drive for work, it’s reasonable to ask the manufacturer if they can provide a courtesy car until your vehicle can be repaired or replaced. This is unlikely to be offered, and if you just use your car to pop to the shops, the manufacturer might argue you can get by.

Disputes around this type of compensation can be complex. But you can try to get round this by getting quotes for repairs from local tradespeople if you want to speed things up. Get a few quotes and ask the manufacturer if they are willing to cover the costs rather than face a hefty compensation claim further down the line.

Martyn James is a leading consumer rights campaigner, TV and radio broadcaster and journalist.