The alert lands while you're making dinner. A frozen breaded chicken product, or a space heater, or the stroller you use every morning, has been recalled after reports of illness or injury. You open the freezer or the hall closet and there it is: same brand, same picture on the front. Is it the bad batch, or just the same name?
Usually that takes about two minutes to answer. Recall notices are written for warehouses and stores as much as for you, so the useful details sit in a table, not the headline.
Look the item up with the agency that covers it: FoodSafety.gov or the FDA and USDA for food and medicine, the CPSC for household goods, and NHTSA for cars, car seats and tires. Match every detail in the notice, including the lot or date code, model number or VIN. A full match means stop using it and claim the free remedy.
How to check if a product you own is recalled
Start with the type of product, because that decides where the recall is published. Food recalls from both the FDA and the USDA are gathered on FoodSafety.gov. Medicines, medical devices, supplements, cosmetics and pet food are on the FDA's recalls page. Toys, furniture, appliances, e-bikes and most other things in your house go through the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Vehicles, tires and car seats belong to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Our recall search collects new FDA and CPSC notices in one place, so you can search by brand without guessing the agency.
Then read the product table, not the headline. The headline says "ground beef" or "children's pajamas." The table lists sizes, date ranges, lot codes and plants. FoodSafety.gov puts it bluntly: if your product doesn't match all the information (brand, product name, use-by or freeze-by date, EST number and so on), it isn't part of the recall. For packaged food you'll usually match the UPC, size and a lot or best-by code; for appliances, the model number and sometimes a serial range; for a car, the 17-character VIN.
Finally, read the "what to do" paragraph. It tells you whether to throw the product away, return it, wait for a repair kit or keep using it with a precaution. People skip it and miss the refund. And if your item was a near miss, check again in a few days: recalls often expand from two best-by dates to twelve as companies trace more batches.
CARFAX's September 2025 release also found that "Do Not Drive" recalls had jumped more than 65% since the summer of 2024. Recalls don't fix themselves. Somebody has to look.
Who announces recalls: FDA, USDA, CPSC or NHTSA?
Food is where people get tripped up. The FDA covers most of the grocery store, but meat, poultry and processed egg products (liquid, frozen and dried eggs) fall under the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service. A cheese pizza is an FDA product; a pepperoni pizza is usually a USDA one. Shell eggs in a carton are FDA again. Pet food is FDA too, which surprises dog owners who go looking on the CPSC site.
| Product | US agency | What you match |
|---|---|---|
| Most packaged food, produce, seafood, shell eggs, drinks, baby formula, pet food | FDA | Brand, size, UPC, lot code, best-by date |
| Meat, poultry, processed egg products | USDA FSIS | EST number, product name, pack or use-by date |
| Medicine, medical devices, cosmetics, supplements | FDA | Lot number, expiry date, NDC or catalog number |
| Household products, toys, furniture, appliances, e-bikes | CPSC | Model number, serial range, manufacture date |
| Cars, motorcycles, tires, car seats | NHTSA | VIN, tire ID number, car seat model and date |
| Recreational boats and boating equipment | US Coast Guard | Hull identification number, model |
What do recall classes mean? Class I, II and III
The FDA sorts every recall by danger. Class I means a reasonable probability that the product will cause serious health problems or death. Class II covers products that may cause temporary or medically reversible problems, or where serious harm is remote. Class III means the product breaks the rules but isn't likely to hurt anyone, like a minor labeling error. USDA meat and poultry recalls use the same three tiers.
Three related terms show up in the news. A market withdrawal is a company pulling a product for a minor issue the FDA wouldn't take legal action over. A medical device safety alert warns that a device may present an unreasonable risk of substantial harm. A public health alert is issued when a recall can't be recommended, for example when people are getting sick but the exact product hasn't been pinned down, or it's no longer on sale.
Most recalls are started by the company. FDA definitions say a recall can come from a firm's own initiative, an FDA request or, where a law allows, an FDA order. "Voluntary" in a press release means the company acted before being forced to, not that the hazard was optional.
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| Week of | Class I (most serious) | Class II | Class III | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food | 634 | 827 | 103 | 1,564 |
| Drugs | 54 | 572 | 41 | 667 |
| Medical devices | 327 | 2,298 | 93 | 2,718 |
Source: FDA, openFDA enforcement report data for food, drugs and devices (report dates October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025, retrieved November 2026).
In fiscal year 2025, FDA Enforcement Reports listed 522 food recall events covering 1,564 products, 317 drug recall events covering 667 products, and 974 device recall events covering 2,718 products. Most never get a press release. The FDA says not every recall is posted on its main recalls page; publicity is generally saved for widely distributed products or serious hazards. Search the database, not just the news.
How to find the lot number, UPC or model number to match a recall
Codes hide in predictable places. The trick is to read every printed number, not just the obvious date.
Cans, jars and boxes
Cans carry a stamped or inkjet code on the bottom or lid, a string of letters and numbers that encodes the plant, line and production date. Jars put it on the lid or the glass shoulder; cereal and snack boxes on a top or bottom flap near the best-by date. If a notice lists both a best-by date and a lot code, match both. Two jars with the same date can come from different lots.
Meat and poultry packs
Find the round USDA mark of inspection. Inside or beside it is an establishment number, written like "EST. 12345" or "P-12345" for poultry. It identifies the plant, and USDA notices list it. Right brand but a different EST number usually means a different plant and no recall.
Medicine
Check the lot number and expiry date on the label or the carton's end flap; the FDA tells patients to compare that lot number with the notice. If your pharmacy repackaged pills into its own bottle, call it: it can look up which manufacturer lot it dispensed. Telling a fake pack from a genuine one is a different job, covered in how to spot fake medicine.
Appliances, tools and baby gear
The model number sits on a rating plate or sticker on the back, underside or inside a door frame, with the serial number and often a manufacture date. Strollers, cribs and high chairs have a label on the frame. On chargers and power banks the print is tiny; take a phone photo and zoom in. For what the digits under a barcode actually mean, see what barcode numbers mean.
I ate or used a recalled product: what now?
Stop. Don't eat any more, and don't taste it to "see if it's off," because contaminated food usually looks and smells normal. Seal it in a bag away from other food until you return it or throw it out.
Then clean. FoodSafety.gov warns that contaminated recalled food can leave germs on fridge shelves and drawers. Wash cookware, cutting boards and shelves in hot soapy water, then sanitize with 1 tablespoon of unscented liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of water and let everything air dry.
Next, think about timing and who ate it:
- Salmonella: symptoms usually start 6 hours to 6 days after infection and last 4 to 7 days, the CDC says.
- Listeria: the intestinal form usually starts within 24 hours; the invasive form, the dangerous one, usually within 2 weeks. It's most likely to harm pregnant women, newborns, older adults and people with weakened immune systems.
- E. coli (Shiga toxin-producing): watch for severe diarrhea and for signs of a kidney complication called HUS, such as peeing very little, extreme tiredness or unexplained bruising, which the CDC calls a medical emergency.
If anyone in a high-risk group ate something recalled for Listeria, call a doctor even if they feel fine. An undeclared allergen recall matters only to people with that allergy, but for them it can be immediate; they should follow their emergency plan.
For Class I medicine recalls, the FDA says to follow the company's instructions. For Class II and III you can generally keep taking the medicine unless told otherwise, because stopping can do more harm than the defect. Call your pharmacist, who can often switch you to an unaffected lot.
Devices such as glucose meters, insulin pumps or CPAP machines come with their own instructions about whether to keep using them while you wait for a fix. Ask your doctor before giving up something you rely on.
How to get a refund, repair or replacement for a recalled product
The CPSC lists four remedies you'll see on household goods: a refund (full, partial or a gift card), a repair, a replacement, or disposal. For food it's almost always "return it to the store or throw it away."
- Use the channel the notice names. Grocery recalls go back to the store. Most others run through the manufacturer's recall page or phone line. Store staff often can't process a manufacturer's repair.
- Photograph before you dispose. Shoot the product, its model or lot label and serial number. Many forms ask for a photo of the item cut or marked so it can't be used again, so read the instructions first.
- Submit the form and keep the confirmation. Save the claim number and email. Repair kits can take weeks.
- Chase it if nothing arrives. Call with your claim number. If the company goes quiet, report it to the agency that published the recall.
A receipt is rarely required; the product or a photo of its codes is the proof. If the company has gone out of business, the agency will usually tell you to stop using and dispose of the item. A store may still take it back, and small claims court is a last resort for something expensive.
For durable goods, registration does the hard work. Federal rules require cribs, strollers, high chairs and other durable baby products to come with a postage-paid registration card, and the maker may use your details only for recall or safety notices.
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| Week of | CPSC recalls |
|---|---|
| 2,019 | 241 |
| 2,020 | 257 |
| 2,021 | 219 |
| 2,022 | 292 |
| 2,023 | 324 |
| 2,024 | 305 |
| 2,025 | 420 |
Source: CPSC recalls database, recalls counted by recall date (retrieved November 2026).
How do I know if my car has a recall?
Run your VIN through NHTSA's lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or use our VIN check. The VIN is on the lower left of the windshield and on your registration and insurance cards. NHTSA also accepts a license plate, and checks up to 100 VINs at once.
The result shows unrepaired safety recalls for that exact vehicle, with blind spots NHTSA lists itself: recalls more than 15 years old, some small or specialty manufacturers, international vehicles, non-safety service campaigns, and brand-new recalls whose VINs aren't loaded yet. Check the manufacturer's owner site too if your car is old or unusual.
Manufacturers must mail registered owners within 60 days of telling NHTSA about a recall. The letter goes to the address on your registration, so people who moved or bought privately often never see it. The remedy can be a repair, replacement, refund or, rarely, a repurchase, done by a franchised dealer for that brand.
Sometimes the letter arrives before parts exist. You'll get an interim notice with safety guidance; follow it. "Do Not Drive" or "Park Outside" means exactly that: the defect can cause sudden failure or fire, and the maker should arrange a tow. Tires and car seats are searched by tire identification number or by car seat model and manufacture date. Buying used? Run the VIN before you pay, and read our guide to used car VIN scams.
Are recalls free, and how long do recalls last?
Vehicle safety recall repairs are free, whether or not you're the first owner. Federal law sets the outer limits: the free remedy needn't cover a vehicle first sold more than 15 calendar years before the recall notice, or a tire first sold more than 5 years before, and tires must be brought in within 180 days of the notice. Paid for a repair before the recall was announced? The maker's plan must include reimbursement, so keep that invoice.
So a car recall lasts, in practice, as long as your car is inside that window. A recall you ignored three years ago is still open and still free. If a dealer can't finish the repair within 60 days of you bringing the car in, the law treats that as evidence the maker hasn't fixed the defect in a reasonable time, which gives you leverage.
Consumer product recalls have no fixed expiry, but programs wind down; a refund offer can turn into "contact customer service" years later. Food recalls are short in the news and long in real life. The story fades in a week; the bag of frozen vegetables sits in your freezer for a year.
The recall ends when the headlines stop. The hazard ends when the product leaves your house.
What happens if you don't fix a recall? Usually nothing official. No one fines you. The cost shows up as a part that fails, awkward questions after a crash, or a buyer who walks away. The CPSC is blunt about the other half: don't sell or give away hazardous products.
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| Week of | FSIS recalls |
|---|---|
| 2,019 | 124 |
| 2,020 | 31 |
| 2,021 | 47 |
| 2,022 | 45 |
| 2,023 | 65 |
| 2,024 | 34 |
| 2,025 | 42 |
Source: USDA FSIS, Summary of Recall Cases and Summary of Recall and PHA Cases, calendar years 2019 to 2025.
Recall counts hide size. FSIS recorded 34 recalls in 2024 but nearly 19.9 million pounds, about 19 million of it from six Listeria recalls. In 2025 it was 42 recalls and 71.4 million pounds, with 13 foreign-material recalls making up more than 69.6 million pounds, plus 24 public health alerts.
How to get recall alerts by email or app
You don't have to catch the news. Each agency runs a free alert service:
- FDA: email updates for food, medicine, devices and pet food from its recalls and safety alerts page.
- USDA FSIS: meat, poultry and egg product recall emails.
- CPSC: recall emails by topic, such as children's products or appliances.
- NHTSA: the free SaferCar app, which alerts you when a recall matches the vehicles, tires and car seats you enter.
- Retailers: warehouse clubs and many grocery chains use membership or loyalty-card records to contact buyers of recalled items.
NHTSA also recommends registering your vehicle, tires and car seats and checking for recalls twice a year. Tie it to changing your clocks.
Is this recall notice real? Fake recall emails and texts
Recalls make perfect cover for scammers: official-sounding, about something you bought, with money back at the end. In July 2025 the FTC warned about texts dressed up as Amazon messages, claiming a "routine quality inspection" found a recent purchase didn't meet standards or had been recalled, and offering a full refund with no return needed through a link. The link led to a page built to take money or personal information.
Genuine recalls never ask for a card number to send a refund, a "shipping fee" for a replacement part, or a gift card. Three signs give a fake away:
- It asks for payment, a card number, a bank login or a code sent to your phone.
- It links to a site that isn't the agency's or the company's own domain, or uses a shortened link.
- You can't find the same recall on FoodSafety.gov, the FDA, the CPSC or NHTSA.
Look the recall up yourself on the agency site, or sign in to the store's app to see your order. You can paste a suspicious message into our scam message checker first. Fake recall texts are one branch of a much bigger texting operation; our guide to toll and package text scams explains how those campaigns run and how to report them.
Recalls outside the US: UK, EU, Canada, Australia and Nigeria
A product sold worldwide can be recalled in one market and not another, so use the database for the place you bought it:
| Country | Where to check |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | OPSS "Product safety alerts, reports and recalls" on GOV.UK; Food Standards Agency alerts; DVSA for vehicles; MHRA for medicines and devices |
| European Union | Safety Gate, the EU rapid alert system for dangerous non-food products; national food agencies for food |
| Canada | Health Canada's Recalls and Safety Alerts site, covering food, health products, consumer products and vehicles |
| Australia | Product Safety Australia (ACCC) for consumer goods; Food Standards Australia New Zealand for food |
| Nigeria | NAFDAC recall and public alert notices for food, drugs, cosmetics and medical devices |
Bought online from abroad? Check both that country's database and your own, because the same model can carry different codes in each market.
Frequently asked questions
Can I return a recalled product without a receipt?
Usually, yes. Recall notices for food normally say to return the item to the place of purchase for a refund, and most grocery and big-box stores honor that without a receipt because the product itself proves the purchase. For appliances, toys and other goods, the remedy usually runs through the manufacturer, which asks for a photo of the product or its model and serial numbers rather than a receipt.
What happens to recalled food after it's pulled from stores?
The company has to account for what it shipped and get it back from distributors and stores. Depending on the problem, the product is destroyed or, for something like a labeling mistake, sometimes corrected under the regulator's supervision. The FDA and USDA check that recalls actually reach the market by contacting businesses that received the product. Recalled food should never end up back on a shelf as it was.
Can a dealer refuse to fix a recall?
An independent repair shop can't do warranty recall work, but a franchised dealer for your car's brand is the place to go and should book the repair. Delays usually come from parts shortages, not refusals. If a dealer turns you away, call the manufacturer's customer line, ask for a case number, and file a complaint with NHTSA at nhtsa.gov if the problem continues.
Can I sell a car with an open recall?
Federal law stops dealers from selling a new vehicle with a safety recall they were notified about until it's fixed, but there is no matching federal ban on private used-car sales. It's still smart, and fair, to get the free repair first. Buyers increasingly run a VIN recall check, and an unrepaired "Do Not Drive" recall can make a car hard to sell at all.
Is it safe to cook recalled meat to kill bacteria?
No. Recall notices for meat and poultry tell you not to eat the product, and that instruction doesn't change because you plan to cook it well. Handling raw recalled meat can spread germs around your kitchen, and many recalls involve problems heat can't fix, such as undeclared allergens, bits of plastic or metal, or products made without inspection. Throw it out or return it.
How do I find out about dog food recalls?
Pet food and treats are regulated by the FDA, so pet food recalls appear in the FDA's recalls list and its email alerts alongside human food. Check the brand, product name, bag size and the lot or best-by code on the bag. If your pet ate a recalled food and seems unwell, call your vet and bring the bag or a photo of the codes.
Who pays for a product recall?
The company that made or imported the product pays: the refunds, replacement parts, dealer labor, shipping and notification letters. For vehicles, the manufacturer reimburses dealers for recall work, which is why you shouldn't be charged. If a recall program asks you to pay a "processing" or shipping fee to receive your remedy, treat it as a scam until you confirm it on the agency's website.
What should I do if my car seat is recalled?
Read the notice closely. Many car seat recalls involve a part such as a buckle, label or chest clip, and the maker sends a free fix kit. The notice will say whether you can keep using the seat until the kit arrives. Register your seat with the manufacturer so you get letters directly, and search your seat's model number and manufacture date on NHTSA's recall page.
Why do recalls take so long to announce?
A company has to trace which batches or production runs are affected before it can publish codes people can match, and regulators often confirm the hazard and classify the recall first. Food outbreaks are slower still, because illnesses must be linked to a single product. That is why recalls sometimes expand days later, and why it's worth checking again if you were close to a match.
Does Amazon notify you about recalled products?
Large online retailers generally email buyers when an item they sold is recalled, and Amazon shows recall and safety alerts inside your account. Check by signing in through the app or a bookmarked website. The FTC has warned about fake "Amazon recall" texts that promise a full refund through a link, so never use the link in an unexpected message.
Sources
- FDA: Recalls background and definitions (2025)
- FDA: Understanding drug recalls, what to know and what to do (2025)
- FDA: Recalls, market withdrawals and safety alerts (2026)
- FDA: openFDA food, drug and device enforcement reports (data for FY2025)
- USDA FSIS: Summary of recall and public health alert cases in calendar year 2025 (2026)
- FoodSafety.gov: Recalls and outbreaks (2026)
- CDC: Symptoms of Listeria infection (2024)
- CDC: Symptoms of Salmonella infection (2024)
- CPSC: Recalls and product safety warnings database (2026)
- 16 CFR 1130: Requirements for consumer registration of durable infant or toddler products
- NHTSA: Check for recalls, vehicle, car seat, tire, equipment (2026)
- 49 U.S.C. 30120: Remedies for defects and noncompliance
- CARFAX: Urgent "Do Not Drive" recalls spike 65% since summer 2024 (2025)
- FTC Consumer Advice: Scammy texts offering "refunds" for Amazon purchases (2025)
Figures are the latest available from each source at the time of writing. We review guides when official data or rules change. Spotted an error? Tell us.