Where to find the lot number on food and products
Recalls rarely cover every package of a product. They name lot numbers, batch codes or dates. Here is where those codes are printed and how to read them, with examples from real recall notices.
Short answer: The lot number is a short code printed in ink or stamped into the package, usually next to the best-by date: on the lid or bottom of cans and jars, on the end of egg cartons, near the USDA mark on meat, on the bottom of formula cans and on the rating label of appliances. Compare it character by character with the codes in the recall notice. Only the listed codes are affected.
Where the code is on each type of package
| Package | Where to look | What the code tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Cans | Top or bottom lid, embossed or inked | Low-acid canned food must carry a code that identifies the plant, the product, the year, the day and the period it was packed (21 CFR 113.60). |
| Jars & bottles | Lid, shoulder or bottom of the glass | Often a short code next to the best-by date. |
| Egg cartons | Short end or side of the carton | USDA-graded eggs show the plant number (“P-” plus digits) and a 3-digit Julian pack date (USDA AMS). |
| Meat & poultry | Label near the USDA mark, box end | The establishment number inside the USDA mark (EST. or P-) names the plant; recalls add “packed on” or “use by” dates. Look up the plant. |
| Boxes & bags | Top flap, bottom, back seam or crimp | Printed in ink near the best-by date; on frozen food sometimes inside the picture. |
| Infant formula | Bottom of the can or tin | Formula must carry a code identifying the product and plant (21 CFR 106.80) and a use-by date (21 CFR 107.20). |
| Medicine | Bottle label and carton, near the expiration date | Drug labels must show a lot or control number (21 CFR 201.18) and an expiration date (21 CFR 201.17). |
| Electronics & appliances | Rating label on the bottom or back | Recalls name the model number, often with a serial number range or date code. |
| Children’s products | Permanent tracking label on the product and packaging | Required since 2009 so you can tell the maker, where and when it was made and the batch (CPSC). |
How to read the code
- Find every code on the package. Many packages carry several: a UPC under the barcode, a lot or batch code, a date and sometimes a time stamp. Recalls can use any of them.
- Match the format of the notice. If the recall lists “Lot 25128L1C0”, look for a code of the same length and pattern. Letters like O and 0 or I and 1 are easy to mix up.
- Check date ranges carefully. Notices often say “best by dates between” two dates. Read whether the first and last date are included, and check that the UPC and size match too.
- Julian dates are 3-digit day numbers: 001 = January 1, 032 = February 1, 223 = August 11 (August 10 in a leap year). Other digits around them, like a year or a line number, follow each maker’s own format.
- Dates are often not the lot. Federal rules do not require dates on most food; only infant formula must carry a use-by date (USDA FSIS). When the notice lists a lot code, the date alone is not enough.
Real examples from recall notices
How companies described where to find the code, quoted from the official notices:
- Glass jar: “The lot code can be found stamped on the bottom of the jar.” Jaime’s Foods ATX Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Egg Allergen in Jaime’s Spanish… (Aug 25, 2026)
- Egg carton: “The recalled eggs will have an identifying code number printed on the left or right sides of the carton in date-coding ink only.” Midwest Poultry Services. L.P. Recalls Shell Eggs Due to Possible Salmonella… (Jul 23, 2026)
- Meat & poultry: “The individual products bear the establishment number "EST. 46069" inside the USDA mark of inspection.” FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Steak Burrito Product Due to Misbranding and… (Jul 29, 2026)
- Frozen food box: “The sell by date is printed in black inside the cheese bread image on the front on the pizza.” Champion Foods Recalls Some Batches of Motor City Pizza Co. 5 Cheese Bread Because of… (May 29, 2026)
- Infant formula can: “The lot code can be found on the bottom of each can.” NARA ORGANICS RECALLS ALL LOTS OF NARA INFANT FORMULA BECAUSE OF POSSIBLE HEALTH RISK (Jun 13, 2026)
- Electronics: “The 17-digit serial number for the battery pack is printed on a label placed at the bottom of the battery pack.” Bose Recalls Lithium-Ion Battery Packs for S1 Pro and S1 Pro+ Bluetooth Speaker Systems… (Nov 5, 2026)
- Appliance: “The Ovens can be identified with model and UPC codes on packaging.” Gourmia Recalls 9-Slice Digital Air Fryer Ovens Due to Burn Hazard (Nov 5, 2026)
480 recalls on this site list lot or batch numbers. Every recall page shows the codes from the notice under “How to identify the product”. Start with your store: Costco, Walmart, Trader Joe’s, Aldi, Kroger, Target.
Common questions
What is a lot number?
A lot (or batch) number is the code a manufacturer gives to everything made in one production run. Recall notices list the affected lot numbers so you can tell whether your package is part of the recall.
Is the lot number the same as the UPC?
No. The UPC under the barcode identifies the product and is the same on every package of it. The lot code changes from run to run. Recalls often list both: the UPC to find the product, the lot code or date to find the affected packages.
Is the best-by date the lot number?
Sometimes it is the only code on the package, and many recalls identify affected food by best-by, use-by or sell-by dates. Federal rules do not require these dates on most foods; infant formula is the exception and must carry a use-by date.
How do I read a 3-digit Julian date?
It is the day of the year: 001 is January 1, 032 is February 1, 223 is August 11 (August 10 in a leap year). On USDA-graded egg cartons it is the day the eggs were packed and follows the plant number, as in P-1946 223.
I can’t find a lot number. What should I do?
Check the bottom, the lid, the back label and the crimped end of the package, and look for a code printed in ink or stamped into the material. If you still can’t find it, contact the company: the phone number is in the official recall notice. Don’t eat or use a product you can’t rule out.
Sources: 21 CFR 113.60 (can codes) · 21 CFR 106.80 and 107.20 (infant formula) · 21 CFR 201.18 and 201.17 (drugs) · USDA FSIS: Food Product Dating · USDA AMS: shell egg labeling · CPSC: tracking labels. Checked Nov 8, 2026.