product safety & quality assurance

General Merchandise and food safety is a top priority and we make sure our products and how they are produced meet mandatory safety standards. Frequently, we require Target-brand vendors to test beyond regulatory requirements—and take special care with children’s products and toys—to ensure products are safe. We expect our vendors to comply with good manufacturing practices or documented manufacturing and quality processes. We also require Target-brand general merchandise be tested at third-party testing labs.

We protect our guests and public health by assessing hundreds of vendor facilities that produce Target-brand foods to meet regulatory guidelines and Target food safety, quality and nutrition and labeling standards.

We continually monitor the safety and quality of our food products by evaluating them at the vendor's facility, at our stores and through feedback we receive from our guests. Learn more about our food safety and quality assurance tools and processes.

We have tools and processes in place to ensure product safety and quality at every stage of production. Before production starts, we audit the factory and meet with the vendor and manufacturer. We require vendors to test Target-brand products at third-party laboratories throughout production. A Target-brand product must pass all testing before it’s approved for shipment.

If we learn about a problem with one of our products, we investigate and, when necessary, quickly remove it from our stores and Target.com. If a product is recalled, we ensure it isn’t sold by issuing a lock on the item number at the cash register and online. We also contact any guest who purchased a recalled item on Target.com or used a REDcard in stores. You'll always find up-to-date recall information posted on in-store iPads, Target's Facebook page, and in the “recalls” link on Target.com.