Product Recalls, Withdrawals and Safety Alerts

You may have heard a news story about a product recall for a toy, food item, car or other product in your home or office.  But the news went by so quickly, you didn't have time to write it down.  Now, you're wondering if you bought one of the recalled items.

Here's how you can check: This page includes the most significant product recall actions of the last 60 days, based on the extent of distribution and the degree of health risk. The recalls on the list are mainly Class I, the most significant and dangerous recalls.

A record of all recalls (Classes I, II, and III) can be found in the
FDA Enforcement Report. Definitions of Class I, II, and III recalls.

You can also sign up to automatically receive Product Recall notices by email, direct from the Federal Trade Commission.

Search the Product Recalls

Product recalls are issued by several agencies of the U.S. Government: the FDA, for food and drug recalls, the USDA for agricultural products, the CPSC for toys and consumer products, the EPA, the NHTSA, even the Coast Gaurd.  So how can you search them easily?

The searches are all consolidated in one engine - just click here for that page!

Search False Advertising Cases

If you are interested in searching for companies that have settled false, misleading or exaggerated advertising charges, click here to search the entire FTC database of cases, see this page.

What products are covered by these recall notices?

FDA-regulated Products Which Are Subject to Recall Are:

• human drugs
• animal drugs
• medical devices
• radiation-emitting products
• vaccines
• blood and blood products
• transplantable human tissue
• animal feed
• cosmetics
• about 80 percent of the foods eaten in the United States

Recent Recall Notices

Below are some from the past year that may be of interest:

• January 17, 2008 - FDA Releases Recommendations Regarding Use of Over-the-Counter Cough and Cold Products

• January 9, 2008 - FDA Takes Action Against Compounded Menopause Hormone Therapy Drugs

• December 29, 2007 - FDA Warns Consumers Not to Eat Raw Oysters Harvested from the West Karako Bay Section of Growing Area 3 in Louisiana

• December 21, 2007 - Whole Foods Market Expands Allergy Alert on 365 Organic Everyday Value Swiss Chocolate Bars to All Varieties and Lots

• December 6, 2007 - Listeria Contamination in Queso Fresco, Fresh Cheese

• June 13, 2007 - RC2 Corp. Recalls Various Thomas & Friends™ Wooden Railway Toys Due to Lead Poisoning Hazard. Note: this recall has been expanded. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.  Name of Products: Various Thomas & Friends™ Wooden Railway Toys. Units: About 1.5 million. Importer/Distributor: RC2 Corp., of Oak Brook, Ill. Hazard: Surface paints on the recalled products contain lead. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.