# FDA Recalls Scraper: Food, Drug & Medical Device Recall Alerts (`radiant_opuntia/fda-recall-alerts`) Actor

Search and monitor FDA recalls (food, drugs, medical devices) from the official openFDA enforcement reports, no API key needed. Filter by product type, Class I/II/III, firm, state, keyword and date. Flat JSON with reason, hazard tags and distribution. 'Only new' mode for daily recall alerts.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/radiant_opuntia/fda-recall-alerts.md
- **Developed by:** [GovData Feeds](https://apify.com/radiant_opuntia) (community)
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

$3.00 / 1,000 results

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

An Actor is a serverless cloud program that runs on the Apify platform. It has two run modes.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.

Apify vocabulary and the platform model are defined once, in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md.

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.

Do not guess an integration path. Every one of them is in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md: the Apify MCP server, Agent Skills with the Apify CLI, the JavaScript and Python clients, the REST API, and the account-free path for an agent with no human to sign in. It also carries the rule on stating cost before the first paid run.

For examples already wired to this Actor's own input schema, see the [API](#api) section below.

Each client library has reference documentation the quickstart does not restate: [JavaScript/TypeScript](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md) (`npm install apify-client`) and [Python](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md) (`pip install apify-client`).

# README

**Get FDA food, drug and medical device recalls as clean rows, with classification, reason, affected product, distribution and hazard tags, plus new-recall alerts.**

**Rate your experience:** if you have used this Actor, you can tell us how it went on the [reviews page](https://apify.com/radiant_opuntia/fda-recall-alerts/reviews). Honest feedback of any kind helps us improve it.

### What it does and who it is for

This Actor reads the **FDA enforcement reports** (food, drug and medical device recalls) from the official **openFDA API** and returns one flat record per recalled product: **recall number, classification (Class I, II or III), status, report and initiation dates, recalling firm and location, product description and quantity, lot and code information, recall reason, voluntary or mandated, distribution pattern, a nationwide flag and a link to the FDA record**. Drug and device records also include fields such as NDC codes, active ingredients and device name when FDA provides them.

Filter by product type, classification, keyword (for example "listeria" or "undeclared peanut"), recalling firm, firm state, ongoing-only and report date range. Turn on **Only new** to get each recall once.

#### Use cases

- **Food manufacturers, grocers and retailers:** watch for recalls of products you stock or the ingredients you use.
- **Compliance, quality and regulatory teams:** track Class I recalls in your category.
- **Law firms and insurers:** early notice of recalls tied to a product or firm.
- **Hospitals, pharmacies and distributors:** monitor drug and device recalls.
- **Journalists and consumer safety groups:** a daily feed of new recalls.
- **AI agents:** answer "any new Class I food recalls for undeclared allergens this week?".

### Why use this instead of the free official site or API

The underlying data is public and the official sources are free. What this Actor adds is convenience: the raw enforcement data comes back flat, filtered and ready to alert on.

| What you need | Official site / API | This Actor |
|---|---|---|
| Searching three recall datasets | openFDA has separate food, drug and device endpoints with their own field sets | One input searches any combination and returns one common record format |
| Readable hazard categories | Free-text reason field | Adds `hazardTags` (for example undeclared ingredient or allergen) and an `isNationwide` flag derived from the distribution text |
| Query syntax | openFDA search syntax and paging limits to learn | Plain input fields: keyword, firm, state, class, dates |
| Only new recalls | You track recall numbers yourself | **Only new** mode with a named alert |

If you only need a single lookup now and then, the official site is fine. If you want the same data on a schedule, as flat rows you can feed to a spreadsheet, CRM or agent, this saves the glue work.

### Data fields

| Field | Type | What it contains |
|---|---|---|
| `recallNumber` | text | FDA recall number, unique per product recall. |
| `eventId` | text | FDA recall event ID; one event can include several products. |
| `productType` | text | food, drug or device. |
| `classification` | text | Class I, Class II or Class III. |
| `status` | text | Ongoing, Completed or Terminated. |
| `reportDate` | date | Date of the FDA enforcement report that listed the recall. |
| `recallInitiationDate` | date | Date the firm started the recall. |
| `classificationDate` | date | Date FDA classified the recall. |
| `terminationDate` | text | Date the recall was terminated, if it has been. |
| `recallingFirm` | text | Name of the recalling company. |
| `city` | text | City of the recalling firm. |
| `state` | text | State of the recalling firm. |
| `country` | text | Country of the recalling firm. |
| `productDescription` | text | Description of the recalled product. |
| `productQuantity` | text | Quantity recalled, as stated by FDA. |
| `codeInfo` | text | Lot, batch, UPC and date code information. |
| `reason` | text | Reason for the recall. |
| `hazardTags` | text | Hazard categories derived from the reason text, joined with semicolons. |
| `voluntaryOrMandated` | text | Whether the recall was voluntary or mandated. |
| `initialFirmNotification` | text | How the firm first notified its customers. |
| `distributionPattern` | text | Where the product was distributed, as stated by the firm. |
| `isNationwide` | boolean | true when the distribution text indicates nationwide distribution. |
| `brandNames` | text | Brand names (drug records). |
| `genericNames` | text | Generic names (drug records). |
| `activeIngredients` | text | Active ingredients (drug records). |
| `ndcCodes` | text | National Drug Code(s) (drug records). |
| `manufacturerNames` | text | Manufacturer names (drug records). |
| `route` | text | Route of administration (drug records). |
| `deviceName` | text | Device name (device records). |
| `medicalSpecialty` | text | Medical specialty (device records). |
| `productCode` | text | FDA product code (device records). |
| `url` | text | Link to the recall on the FDA Enforcement Report site. |
| `scrapedAt` | datetime | When the Actor collected the record (UTC). |

Fields a source does not publish are `null`. Drug-only and device-only fields are `null` for other product types.

### "New since yesterday" alerts

Turn on **Only new** and the Actor remembers what it has already returned, so each scheduled run delivers only records you have not seen before.

1. Open the Actor in Apify Console and set the input, with **Only new since last run** switched on and a fixed alert name (`stateKey`). Example input:

```json
{
  "productTypes": ["food", "drug", "device"],
  "classifications": ["Class I", "Class II"],
  "reportedWithinDays": 30,
  "maxResults": 200,
  "onlyNew": true,
  "stateKey": "daily-fda-recalls"
}
```

2. Click **Save as task**, then open **Schedules**, create a schedule (for example the cron expression `0 7 * * *` for every day at 7:00 in the time zone you pick) and add the task to it.
3. Under the task's **Integrations**, send the results to Slack, email, Google Sheets, a webhook or your own system.

FDA publishes enforcement reports weekly, so a 30-day window with Only new works well for a daily or weekly schedule.

The first run returns everything that matches your window (all matching recalls reported in the last 30 days); later runs return only unseen records. Use a different alert name for each task so each keeps its own memory. A run with nothing new returns no results.

### Cost per run

This Actor uses **pay-per-result pricing: $3.00 per 1,000 results ($0.003 per result)**, with the Apify platform fee included. You are charged for the records a run returns and nothing is added on top for platform usage. A run that finds nothing new returns no results, so it has no per-result charge. The **Max results** input caps what a run can return (and so what it can cost).

**Worked example:** a weekly alert that returns 20 new recall records costs 20 × $0.003 = $0.06 per run. Pulling 1,000 recall records costs $3.00.

The pricing is configured in Apify Console; the Pricing tab on this page is the authoritative source if it ever differs from this text.

### Example input and output

The output below comes from real test runs of this Actor. Email addresses are masked and very long text is shortened here; the Actor returns the full values.

Input used for the example:

```json
{
  "productTypes": ["food"],
  "classifications": ["Class I", "Class II"],
  "keyword": "undeclared",
  "reportedWithinDays": 14,
  "ongoingOnly": true,
  "onlyNew": true,
  "stateKey": "food-allergen-recalls",
  "maxResults": 200
}
```

Output (the first 2 records of a test run):

```json
[
  {
    "recallNumber": "H-0015-2027",
    "eventId": "99933",
    "productType": "food",
    "classification": "Class II",
    "status": "Ongoing",
    "reportDate": "2026-10-14",
    "recallInitiationDate": "2026-09-15",
    "classificationDate": "2026-10-07",
    "terminationDate": null,
    "recallingFirm": "QUESO PALMITA GP LLC",
    "city": "Stafford",
    "state": "TX",
    "country": "United States",
    "productDescription": "QUESO PALMITA. Generic Name: Pastel de Queso (Cheese Pie). Intended use: Human consumption. Condition: Frozen. Shelf life or expected life: 90 days. Type of packaging: Vacuum, resealable package. Net weight: 1.2 lbs. UPC…",
    "productQuantity": "20 packages",
    "codeInfo": "Manufacturing code: PQ02. Batch/lot code: PQ-1-0024. Manufacturing date: 04/22/2026. Packing date: 04/22/2026. Best By: 10/22/2026. Expiration date: 10/22/2026.",
    "reason": "Undeclared milk, cheese declared",
    "hazardTags": "undeclared ingredient or allergen",
    "voluntaryOrMandated": "Voluntary: Firm initiated",
    "initialFirmNotification": "Telephone",
    "distributionPattern": "Texas",
    "isNationwide": false,
    "brandNames": null,
    "genericNames": null,
    "activeIngredients": null,
    "ndcCodes": null,
    "manufacturerNames": null,
    "route": null,
    "deviceName": null,
    "medicalSpecialty": null,
    "productCode": null,
    "url": "https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/ires/index.cfm?Event=99933",
    "scrapedAt": "2026-10-23T10:42:40.292Z"
  },
  {
    "recallNumber": "H-0021-2027",
    "eventId": "100043",
    "productType": "food",
    "classification": "Class II",
    "status": "Ongoing",
    "reportDate": "2026-10-14",
    "recallInitiationDate": "2026-10-01",
    "classificationDate": "2026-10-07",
    "terminationDate": null,
    "recallingFirm": "Saint Francis Apizza LLC",
    "city": "Cincinnati",
    "state": "OH",
    "country": "United States",
    "productDescription": "Saint Francis Apizza Frozen Pepperoni Pizza, Net Weight: 17 oz. (482g), packaged individually in vacuum-sealed plastic, UPC: 6 66186 27762 1",
    "productQuantity": "4,931 individual units",
    "codeInfo": "Best By: all dates through 3/30/2027",
    "reason": "Undeclared soy allergen: soybean oil and soy lecithin",
    "hazardTags": "undeclared ingredient or allergen",
    "voluntaryOrMandated": "Voluntary: Firm initiated",
    "initialFirmNotification": "Two or more of the following: Email, Fax, Letter, Press Release, Telephone, Visit",
    "distributionPattern": "KY, OH",
    "isNationwide": false,
    "brandNames": null,
    "genericNames": null,
    "activeIngredients": null,
    "ndcCodes": null,
    "manufacturerNames": null,
    "route": null,
    "deviceName": null,
    "medicalSpecialty": null,
    "productCode": null,
    "url": "https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/ires/index.cfm?Event=100043",
    "scrapedAt": "2026-10-23T10:42:40.299Z"
  }
]
```

### Limits worth knowing

- FDA publishes enforcement reports weekly, and a recall can be listed some time after the firm started it. Check `reportDate` and `recallInitiationDate`.
- The report date window defaults to the last 30 days. Set it to 0 to remove the limit.
- Each record is one recalled product, so a single recall event can produce several rows.
- `hazardTags` and `isNationwide` are derived from FDA's text by simple rules, not provided by FDA.
- Without an openFDA API key, openFDA allows about 1,000 requests per day per IP address, which is plenty for alerts. Add a free key for heavy use.

### FAQ

#### Do I need an API key?

No. openFDA works without one for normal alert use. You can add a free key from open.fda.gov for heavy use.

#### What do Class I, II and III mean?

Class I: reasonable probability of serious harm or death. Class II: temporary or reversible harm. Class III: unlikely to cause harm.

#### Is this the same as FDA's recall press releases?

No. It is the FDA enforcement report data (via openFDA), which includes details such as lot and code information that press releases may not.

#### Can I get only ongoing recalls?

Yes, turn on **Ongoing only**.

#### Does it replace checking FDA before acting?

No. Always confirm on the linked FDA record before taking action.

### Related Actors

More Actors from GovData Feeds, all on Apify:

- [grants-gov-alerts](https://apify.com/radiant_opuntia/grants-gov-alerts): US federal grant opportunities (Grants.gov): ceilings, deadlines, eligibility
- [sec-form-d-alerts](https://apify.com/radiant_opuntia/sec-form-d-alerts): SEC Form D filings: companies that just raised money
- [usaspending-awards-alerts](https://apify.com/radiant_opuntia/usaspending-awards-alerts): New federal contract, grant and loan awards (USAspending)
- [sec-form4-insider-alerts](https://apify.com/radiant_opuntia/sec-form4-insider-alerts): SEC Form 4 insider buys and sells, one row per transaction
- [fda-compliance-alerts](https://apify.com/radiant_opuntia/fda-compliance-alerts): FDA 510(k) clearances, MAUDE adverse events and warning letters
- [cpsc-recall-alerts](https://apify.com/radiant_opuntia/cpsc-recall-alerts): CPSC consumer product safety recalls
- [us-building-permits-alerts](https://apify.com/radiant_opuntia/us-building-permits-alerts): New building permits from nine city open-data portals
- [clinical-trials-alerts](https://apify.com/radiant_opuntia/clinical-trials-alerts): New ClinicalTrials.gov studies by condition, sponsor and phase
- [federal-register-alerts](https://apify.com/radiant_opuntia/federal-register-alerts): Federal Register rules, proposed rules and notices
- [contractor-license-alerts](https://apify.com/radiant_opuntia/contractor-license-alerts): New contractor licenses in WA, OR and NY with bond and insurance
- [ofac-sanctions-alerts](https://apify.com/radiant_opuntia/ofac-sanctions-alerts): OFAC sanctions screening and change alerts
- [new-business-registrations-alerts](https://apify.com/radiant_opuntia/new-business-registrations-alerts): New LLC and corporation registrations (NY, CO, OR, CT)
- [epa-echo-enforcement-alerts](https://apify.com/radiant_opuntia/epa-echo-enforcement-alerts): EPA ECHO facilities with new environmental penalties
- [restaurant-inspections-alerts](https://apify.com/radiant_opuntia/restaurant-inspections-alerts): Restaurant health inspections from seven US jurisdictions
- [code-violations-alerts](https://apify.com/radiant_opuntia/code-violations-alerts): Building, housing and property code violations from six cities

*Data comes from openFDA and the FDA Enforcement Reports, a US government source. This Actor is not affiliated with or endorsed by the FDA. Always check the official FDA record before acting on a recall.*

# Actor input Schema

## `productTypes` (type: `array`):

Which FDA enforcement reports to search.

## `classifications` (type: `array`):

Class I = reasonable probability of serious harm or death (most urgent). Class II = temporary or reversible harm. Class III = unlikely to cause harm. Leave empty for all classes.

## `keyword` (type: `string`):

Matches the recall reason, product description or recalling firm. Examples: 'listeria', 'undeclared peanut', 'pacemaker', 'metformin'.

## `recallingFirm` (type: `string`):

Part of the company name, e.g. 'Walmart' or 'Pfizer'. Optional.

## `states` (type: `array`):

Two-letter US state codes of the recalling firm, e.g. CA, TX. Leave empty for all.

## `ongoingOnly` (type: `boolean`):

Skip recalls that FDA has marked Completed or Terminated.

## `reportedWithinDays` (type: `integer`):

FDA publishes enforcement reports weekly. Ignored if a start date is set. 0 = no date limit.

## `startDate` (type: `string`):

Enforcement report date in YYYY-MM-DD format. Overrides 'Reported within last N days'.

## `endDate` (type: `string`):

Enforcement report date in YYYY-MM-DD format. Defaults to today.

## `onlyNew` (type: `boolean`):

Remember what was already returned and output only recalls not seen in earlier runs of this same search. Ideal with a daily Schedule + email/Slack/webhook integration.

## `stateKey` (type: `string`):

Separate memory for 'only new' mode. Defaults to a key derived from your filters.

## `openFdaApiKey` (type: `string`):

Not needed. Without a key, openFDA allows about 1,000 requests per day per IP, which is plenty for alerts. Add a free key from open.fda.gov for heavy use.

## `maxResults` (type: `integer`):

Stop after this many recall records.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "productTypes": [
    "food",
    "drug",
    "device"
  ],
  "classifications": [],
  "keyword": "listeria",
  "states": [],
  "ongoingOnly": false,
  "reportedWithinDays": 90,
  "onlyNew": false,
  "maxResults": 50
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `results` (type: `string`):

All FDA recall records returned by this run (flat JSON items in the default dataset).

## `runSummary` (type: `string`):

Counts of items pushed and items skipped as already seen (only-new mode).

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "productTypes": [
        "food",
        "drug",
        "device"
    ],
    "keyword": "listeria",
    "ongoingOnly": false,
    "reportedWithinDays": 90,
    "onlyNew": false,
    "maxResults": 50
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("radiant_opuntia/fda-recall-alerts").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {
    "productTypes": [
        "food",
        "drug",
        "device",
    ],
    "keyword": "listeria",
    "ongoingOnly": False,
    "reportedWithinDays": 90,
    "onlyNew": False,
    "maxResults": 50,
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("radiant_opuntia/fda-recall-alerts").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "productTypes": [
    "food",
    "drug",
    "device"
  ],
  "keyword": "listeria",
  "ongoingOnly": false,
  "reportedWithinDays": 90,
  "onlyNew": false,
  "maxResults": 50
}' |
apify call radiant_opuntia/fda-recall-alerts --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,radiant_opuntia/fda-recall-alerts"
        }
    }
}
```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/avTL2tZLbhta88KkG/builds/RXHa6cSWWQOZGtj9P/openapi.json