What describes a recall log and what it should contain to be effective?

• A. A documented record of recall activities; includes product codes, batch/lot numbers, dates, actions taken, notifications, and final disposition.
• B. A log of supplier audits and corrective actions.
• C. A record of customer complaints and refunds.
• D. A daily production log.

Answer: (A)

A recall log is a focused, centralized record that tracks every recall event from start to finish, ensuring traceability and accountability. It should document the identifiers that pin down exactly which products are involved: product codes and batch/lot numbers, plus dates for when the issue was identified and when actions and communications occurred. It also records what was done to contain and remove the affected product (actions taken), whom was notified (regulatory bodies, distributors, and customers), and the final disposition of the product (returned, destroyed, reworked, or released with justification). Having these elements in one place enables rapid identification of affected stock, verification of recall effectiveness, and proper regulatory reporting.

Other records, like supplier audit logs, customer complaint records, or daily production logs, serve important quality purposes but do not replace a formal recall log designed to capture recall-specific actions and outcomes.