Mock recalls: what auditors look for
How to run a meaningful recall test under BRCGS Food clause 3.11.3 (equivalent requirements apply in the other standards too): customer contact, out-of-hours testing, timings and N/A steps.
A recall test is one of the clearest ways to show your system works under pressure. Our lead auditors and a BRCGS report reviewer discussed what good looks like for the BRCGS Food Standard, clause 3.11.3.
Q: Do we have to contact our customers during a mock recall?
It is not a BRCGS requirement to literally contact the customer; you need to confirm in some way that contact details are correct. Your retail customer may require it, though. If you do contact customers, make it very clear it is a test: a skim-read email can cause panic if it looks like a real recall.
Q: What should a mock recall include?
It should mirror a real recall as closely as possible, because the point is to show you could carry one out. That includes:
- internal communications
- communication with suppliers where relevant
- communication with customers
You don't need to contact every customer. If 30 are involved, one or two examples can show that contact details, templates, approvals and escalation routes all work in practice. Every BRCGS Standard requires the procedure to be tested at least once a year (clause 3.11.3 in Food Safety Issue 9).
Q: What about steps we can't actually do in a test?
Where an activity can't realistically be carried out (for example physically reconciling and removing product from the market), mark it N/A with a short explanation. The same goes for timings: record real, achievable timings for the actions you genuinely perform, rather than forcing artificial data.
Q: Should we test outside working hours?
Many businesses only test during normal hours. Testing whether suppliers and customers can be reached out of hours better reflects a real recall. If you can't reach them, at least verify that out-of-hours contact details exist and are up to date. Some retailers insist on an out-of-hours test. Our Advanced RCA, Incident and Crisis Management course covers recall planning in depth.
Q: Is the mock recall just a tick-box exercise?
It shouldn't be. The clause requires you to test the procedure – not just the skills of the person conducting the test. You’re challenging the procedure - so remember to conclude with a statement that the procedure either works or needs improvement. Record what you learned and what you changed.
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Reviewed by Cathy Gladwin, Director & BRCGS ATP Trainer, STC · November 2026
These Q&As share general best practice from our trainers and auditors. They aren't consultancy advice for your site. For support specific to your site and systems, we can refer you to our sister company QTC.
Learn more: our Advanced RCA, Incident and Crisis Management course covers much more than recall planning. See the course calendar, or ask QTC about traceability and recall support.