Knowing what’s in our food — and when something goes wrong — is part of being an informed eater. Here is a resource worth bookmarking, which was brought to my attention through the OSU Master Food Preserver program.

The FDA sends free email alerts for recalls, market withdrawals, and safety alerts. You can sign up at FDA.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts. But be prepared: On an active day, you might receive several alerts.

Large-scale food system failures are and can be scary. But we also believe that staying informed helps keep people safe. It’s one small way to be a more conscious participant in the food system. It also brings home some of the dangers of relying on a industrialized food system where the sheer scale of production means that when something goes wrong, it can affect thousands of people before anyone notices. It’s a reminder of why knowing your food, your farmers, and your producers matters.