Recall Guides
Learn how recalls work and how to check 104,423 federal recall records using official FDA, CPSC, USDA FSIS, and NHTSA data.
Download the category-level recall summary cited on this page: plainrecalls-category-summary.csv (U.S. CPSC, FDA, USDA FSIS and NHTSA public notices · CC0).
How the US Recall System Works
The four federal sources that manage product recalls, how recalls are initiated, and what happens after a recall is announced.
How to Check If Your Products Are Recalled
Step-by-step guide to checking food, consumer products, medications, and vehicles for active recalls using federal databases.
Understanding Recall Severity Classes
What FDA Class I, II, and III mean, how CPSC and NHTSA classify recall urgency, and which recalls demand immediate action.
What to Do When a Product Is Recalled
Step-by-step: verify if your product is affected, claim your remedy, report injuries, and navigate FDA, CPSC, USDA FSIS, and NHTSA processes.
Most Recalled Product Categories
Rankings of highest-recall categories from FDA, CPSC, USDA FSIS, and NHTSA: food, children's products, vehicles, and emerging categories.
Recalled Products Still in Your Home: How to Do a Full Household Audit
Millions of recalled products stay in use because owners were never notified. A room-by-room guide to checking your home for active recalls.
FDA vs USDA Food Recalls: What You Need to Know
Two different federal agencies handle food recalls in the US. Which agency covers what, how their processes differ, and why it matters for your safety.
Methodology
The guides on PlainRecalls are grounded in 104,423 federal recall records aggregated from four U.S. federal sources: FDA (openFDA Enforcement API), CPSC (Recalls API), USDA FSIS (meat, poultry, and processed egg-product notices), and NHTSA (Recalls API). Every guide on this page is written by reviewing the actual filings, cross-referencing agency classification systems, and surfacing patterns that matter for consumer decisions. We do not speculate beyond what the public federal record shows.
How We Produce Guides
- Data-first drafting. Each guide starts from the federal record. Claims about recall volume, severity distribution, or agency scope are traceable to openFDA, CPSC, USDA FSIS, and NHTSA feeds.
- Editorially compiled. Narrative framing is drafted and edited by our editorial process against the source records before publication.
- No paid placement. Severity classifications and recall records are taken directly from federal agency databases. We do not accept payment for coverage, placement, or rankings.
- Verification before action. Every guide directs readers to verify recall status with the issuing agency before making safety decisions. Our database may lag agency announcements by 24-72 hours.
Data Sources
- FDA openFDA Enforcement API - food, drug, biologic, and medical device recalls
- CPSC Recalls API - consumer product recalls (toys, appliances, furniture, batteries)
- NHTSA Recalls API - vehicle, tire, and car-seat recalls
The full data collection, processing, and classification methodology is documented at /methodology.