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How Do You Check an FDA Recall?

Learn how to check FDA recalls, market withdrawals, and safety alerts, which products appear on the main list, and why some recalls are listed elsewhere.

Direct answer

To check an FDA recall, use FDA's recalls, market withdrawals, and safety alerts page, then search or filter by product type, company, product name, or date. The FDA recall page covers many FDA-regulated products, but not every recall has a press release or appears on the main list in the same way.

FDA-regulated product + product name or company + recall page search = recall check

What to search with

Product name

Search the recall page

Try brand or company

Product type

Filter by category

Use broad FDA recall search

Company name

Search company notices

Check package label

Date range

Narrow recent alerts

Search archive or older notices

Non-FDA product

Use another agency

NHTSA for vehicles, CPSC for many consumer goods

Known detail	How to use it	If it is missing
Product name	Search the recall page	Try brand or company
Product type	Filter by category	Use broad FDA recall search
Company name	Search company notices	Check package label
Date range	Narrow recent alerts	Search archive or older notices
Non-FDA product	Use another agency	NHTSA for vehicles, CPSC for many consumer goods

The main FDA list is not the only possible notice path

FDA warns that some recalls may not have press releases or may be communicated through other pages. If the product risk is urgent, follow product-specific instructions and contact the company or a professional source named in the notice.

Check the recall

1Identify the product name, brand, company, lot number, UPC, or model.
2Open FDA's recalls, market withdrawals, and safety alerts page.
3Search the product or company name and filter by product type if needed.
4Compare lot, date, package, model, and description details against your item.
5Follow the recall notice instructions and report a problem if you experienced a safety issue.

FAQ

Does the FDA recall page cover food and medicines?

Yes. FDA's recalls, market withdrawals, and safety alerts page covers many FDA-regulated products, including food, drugs, cosmetics, and medical devices.

Why can I not find every FDA recall on the main list?

FDA notes that some recalls may not have a press release or may be listed through a different route, so the main list is not always the only place to check.

Is an FDA recall search the same as a vehicle recall search?

No. FDA recall pages are for FDA-regulated products. Vehicle recalls are usually checked through NHTSA instead.

Sources & method

We reviewed these references while writing this answer. Figures are estimates — confirm safety-critical work with a professional. Last updated June 7, 2026.