Peanut butter, bird food, dog treats. They’ve all been the subject of recalls in the past year, due to some health concern or another.

Questionable beef, turkey and spinach have sparked massive recalls after these products sickened, or had the potential to sicken, significant numbers of people.

Consumers know this because warnings about the possible dangers of some products appear on the news -- or stores that sold the products post written alerts in their businesses.

Here’s what you need to know about recalled products:

• If you’ve bought one, stop using it
• You are entitled to a refund
• Refund policies vary, depending on the point of purchase or manufacturer
• Keep the questionable item so you can prove you bought it

A recent survey lists France and Israel as the top countries for food safety and quality. The United States is third. Still, there are certain goods that could be compromised due to a number of factors. One of those is food counterfeiting. Just as name-brand purses and watches may be fake, food is vulnerable to criminals who want to make a buck. The name on the bottle or box could be deceiving.

So what do you do if you’re not plugged into what’s going on? The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's website posts regular updates about food safety. Checking in with it on a weekly basis might be a good idea in case you missed the news.