# openFDA Food Recall Scraper (`scrapers_lat/openfda-food-recalls-scraper`) Actor
Scrape FDA food recall and enforcement actions from the official openFDA API. Filter by classification, state, status, reason or date. Export to JSON, CSV, Excel.
- **URL**: https://apify.com/scrapers\_lat/openfda-food-recalls-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [Scrapers Lat](https://apify.com/scrapers_lat) (community)
- **Categories:** Business, Automation, Developer tools
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 0 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: 5.00 out of 5 stars
## Pricing
from $8.00 / 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.
Since this Actor supports Apify Store discounts, the price gets lower the higher subscription plan you have.
Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event
## What's an Apify Actor?
Actors are a software tools running on the Apify platform, for all kinds of web data extraction and automation use cases.
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.
Actors are written with capital "A".
## 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.
The best way to integrate Actors is as follows.
In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js.md):
```bash
npm install apify-client
```
In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python.md):
```bash
pip install apify-client
```
In shell scripts, use [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md):
````bash
# MacOS / Linux
curl -fsSL https://apify.com/install-cli.sh | bash
# Windows
irm https://apify.com/install-cli.ps1 | iex
```bash
In AI frameworks, you might use the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/platform/integrations/mcp.md).
If your project is in a different language, use the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md).
For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below.
For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt).
# README
[](https://console.apify.com/actors/KscpXChjegCnrEQLM/input)
## openFDA Food Recall Scraper
> Extract FDA food recall and enforcement actions from the official openFDA API, covering thousands of US food safety recalls
23 fields per record
United States coverage
JSON / CSV / Excel output formats
Updated 2026-06-22
### What you get
Each record is one food recall or enforcement action from the openFDA food enforcement database, flattened into clean columns.
- **recallNumber**: FDA recall number
- **status**: recall status (ongoing, completed, terminated, pending)
- **classification**: hazard class (Class I, II or III)
- **productType**: product type (Food)
- **productDescription**: full product description
- **reasonForRecall**: why the product was recalled
- **recallingFirm**: the firm conducting the recall
- **city**: firm city
- **state**: firm state
- **country**: firm country
- **postalCode**: firm postal code
- **addressLine1**: firm street address
- **addressLine2**: firm secondary address line when present
- **distributionPattern**: where the product was distributed
- **productQuantity**: quantity in commerce
- **codeInfo**: lot numbers, best by dates and other identifying codes
- **voluntaryMandated**: whether the recall was voluntary or mandated
- **initialFirmNotification**: how the firm first notified customers
- **recallInitiationDate**: date the recall was initiated
- **centerClassificationDate**: date the FDA classified the recall
- **reportDate**: date the recall was reported by the FDA
- **terminationDate**: date the recall was terminated when applicable
- **eventId**: FDA recall event identifier
- **observedAt**: when this record was collected by the scraper
### Who is it for
| Use case | Who benefits |
|---|---|
| Food safety and recall monitoring | Food safety and QA teams |
| Tracking recalls by firm, state or contaminant | Compliance and supplier risk teams |
| Building food recall datasets for research | Public health and data science teams |
| Allergen and pathogen recall alerting | Retail and grocery operations teams |
| Feeding recall data into internal dashboards | Data engineers |
### Frequently Asked Questions
**What data does this scraper cover?**
It covers the openFDA food enforcement database for the United States, which holds food recall and enforcement actions including the product, reason, classification, recalling firm, distribution and status.
**How many records can I pull in one run?**
openFDA paginates with a skip offset up to 25000 records per query. For larger pulls, narrow the filters or the date range so each run stays under that ceiling.
**How do I find serious recalls only?**
Set Classification to Class I, which marks recalls with a reasonable probability of serious health consequences or death. You can combine it with a keyword such as listeria or salmonella and a state filter.
**How does the search work?**
A simple keyword is matched to the recall reason, for example listeria, salmonella or undeclared allergen. You can also paste a raw openFDA expression with a field, such as product_description:cheese or recalling_firm:Tyson.
**What happens to missing fields?**
Fields that openFDA does not provide for a record, such as a termination date on an ongoing recall, are returned as null. The scraper never invents values.
### Example use cases
Ready-to-run example tasks, each preconfigured for a common scenario. Open one and press run, or use it as a template:
- [Find Class I Allergen Food Recalls](https://apify.com/scrapers_lat/openfda-food-recalls-scraper/examples/openfda-allergen-class-i-recalls): Scrape the most serious (Class I) FDA food recalls for undeclared allergens from openFDA. Get product, firm, reason, status and distribution.
- [Track Listeria Food Recalls](https://apify.com/scrapers_lat/openfda-food-recalls-scraper/examples/openfda-listeria-food-recalls): Scrape FDA food recalls related to listeria from openFDA. Get product, firm, reason, classification, status and distribution for safety research.
- [Monitor Salmonella Food Recalls](https://apify.com/scrapers_lat/openfda-food-recalls-scraper/examples/openfda-salmonella-food-recalls): Scrape FDA food recalls related to salmonella from openFDA. Get product, firm, reason, classification, status and distribution for compliance.
### Related scrapers
Need data from the same space? Here are other scrapers we build and maintain:
- [SEC EDGAR Company Filings Scraper](https://apify.com/scrapers_lat/sec-edgar-filings-scraper): Scrape SEC EDGAR company filings by ticker or CIK. Get form type, filing date, accession number...
- [USAspending Federal Award Scraper](https://apify.com/scrapers_lat/usaspending-awards-scraper): Scrape US federal prime awards from USAspending.gov. Get recipient, UEI, award amount, awarding...
- [openFDA Drug Events & Recalls Scraper](https://apify.com/scrapers_lat/openfda-drug-events-scraper): Scrape FDA drug adverse event reports (FAERS) and drug recall and enforcement actions from the...
- [OFAC Sanctions List Scraper](https://apify.com/scrapers_lat/ofac-sanctions-scraper): Download and parse the US Treasury OFAC SDN and Consolidated sanctions lists. Get each sanctioned...
- [Grants.gov Opportunity Scraper](https://apify.com/scrapers_lat/grants-gov-scraper): Extract U.S. federal grant opportunities from the official Grants.gov API. Scrape title, agency...
- [Federal Register Document Scraper](https://apify.com/scrapers_lat/federal-register-scraper): Search and extract documents from the U.S. Federal Register by keyword, document type, agency and...
### More scrapers at scrapers.lat
This actor is built and maintained by [scrapers.lat](https://scrapers.lat), where we publish scrapers for Latin American and US public platforms: real estate, jobs, e-commerce, company registries and government data. Browse the full catalog, see live sample output for each one, or ask us for a custom scraper at [scrapers.lat](https://scrapers.lat).
---
> This actor is an independent tool and has no affiliation with the FDA or openFDA. It only accesses data that is publicly available through the open FDA API. Use it in accordance with the openFDA terms of service.
# Actor input Schema
## `maxItems` (type: `integer`):
Maximum number of food recall records to collect. Optional. openFDA paginates with skip up to 25000, so for very large pulls narrow the filters or date range.
## `searchQuery` (type: `string`):
A simple keyword (matched to the recall reason, for example listeria, salmonella, undeclared allergen), or a raw openFDA search expression containing a field, for example product_description:cheese or recalling_firm:Tyson. Leave empty to pull the most recent food recalls.
## `classification` (type: `string`):
Recall hazard class. Class I is the most serious (reasonable probability of serious health consequences or death).
## `status` (type: `string`):
Recall status.
## `state` (type: `string`):
Two-letter US state code of the recalling firm, for example CA, NY, TX.
## `dateFrom` (type: `string`):
Only include recalls with an FDA report date on or after this date (YYYY-MM-DD).
## `dateTo` (type: `string`):
Only include recalls with an FDA report date on or before this date (YYYY-MM-DD).
## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`):
Optional. openFDA is a public, open API and does not require a proxy. Leave disabled unless you specifically need to route requests through a proxy.
## Actor input object example
```json
{
"maxItems": 50,
"searchQuery": "listeria",
"classification": "",
"status": "",
"state": "",
"proxyConfiguration": {
"useApifyProxy": false
}
}
````
# Actor output Schema
## `results` (type: `string`):
No description
# 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 '' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
token: '',
});
// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
"maxItems": 50,
"searchQuery": "listeria"
};
// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("scrapers_lat/openfda-food-recalls-scraper").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 '' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("")
# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {
"maxItems": 50,
"searchQuery": "listeria",
}
# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("scrapers_lat/openfda-food-recalls-scraper").call(run_input=run_input)
# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"])
for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items():
print(item)
# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start
```
## CLI example
```bash
echo '{
"maxItems": 50,
"searchQuery": "listeria"
}' |
apify call scrapers_lat/openfda-food-recalls-scraper --silent --output-dataset
```
## MCP server setup
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"apify": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"mcp-remote",
"https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=scrapers_lat/openfda-food-recalls-scraper",
"--header",
"Authorization: Bearer "
]
}
}
}
```
## OpenAPI specification
```json
{
"openapi": "3.0.1",
"info": {
"title": "openFDA Food Recall Scraper",
"description": "Scrape FDA food recall and enforcement actions from the official openFDA API. Filter by classification, state, status, reason or date. Export to JSON, CSV, Excel.",
"version": "0.1",
"x-build-id": "Te8dZpe5DfG9c6wG6"
},
"servers": [
{
"url": "https://api.apify.com/v2"
}
],
"paths": {
"/acts/scrapers_lat~openfda-food-recalls-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": {
"post": {
"operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-scrapers_lat-openfda-food-recalls-scraper",
"x-openai-isConsequential": false,
"summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for its completion, and returns Actor's dataset items in response.",
"tags": [
"Run Actor"
],
"requestBody": {
"required": true,
"content": {
"application/json": {
"schema": {
"$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema"
}
}
}
},
"parameters": [
{
"name": "token",
"in": "query",
"required": true,
"schema": {
"type": "string"
},
"description": "Enter your Apify token here"
}
],
"responses": {
"200": {
"description": "OK"
}
}
}
},
"/acts/scrapers_lat~openfda-food-recalls-scraper/runs": {
"post": {
"operationId": "runs-sync-scrapers_lat-openfda-food-recalls-scraper",
"x-openai-isConsequential": false,
"summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.",
"tags": [
"Run Actor"
],
"requestBody": {
"required": true,
"content": {
"application/json": {
"schema": {
"$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema"
}
}
}
},
"parameters": [
{
"name": "token",
"in": "query",
"required": true,
"schema": {
"type": "string"
},
"description": "Enter your Apify token here"
}
],
"responses": {
"200": {
"description": "OK",
"content": {
"application/json": {
"schema": {
"$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema"
}
}
}
}
}
}
},
"/acts/scrapers_lat~openfda-food-recalls-scraper/run-sync": {
"post": {
"operationId": "run-sync-scrapers_lat-openfda-food-recalls-scraper",
"x-openai-isConsequential": false,
"summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.",
"tags": [
"Run Actor"
],
"requestBody": {
"required": true,
"content": {
"application/json": {
"schema": {
"$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema"
}
}
}
},
"parameters": [
{
"name": "token",
"in": "query",
"required": true,
"schema": {
"type": "string"
},
"description": "Enter your Apify token here"
}
],
"responses": {
"200": {
"description": "OK"
}
}
}
}
},
"components": {
"schemas": {
"inputSchema": {
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"maxItems": {
"title": "Max Items",
"minimum": 1,
"maximum": 1000000,
"type": "integer",
"description": "Maximum number of food recall records to collect. Optional. openFDA paginates with skip up to 25000, so for very large pulls narrow the filters or date range."
},
"searchQuery": {
"title": "Search Query",
"type": "string",
"description": "A simple keyword (matched to the recall reason, for example listeria, salmonella, undeclared allergen), or a raw openFDA search expression containing a field, for example product_description:cheese or recalling_firm:Tyson. Leave empty to pull the most recent food recalls."
},
"classification": {
"title": "Classification",
"enum": [
"",
"Class I",
"Class II",
"Class III"
],
"type": "string",
"description": "Recall hazard class. Class I is the most serious (reasonable probability of serious health consequences or death).",
"default": ""
},
"status": {
"title": "Status",
"enum": [
"",
"Ongoing",
"Completed",
"Terminated",
"Pending"
],
"type": "string",
"description": "Recall status.",
"default": ""
},
"state": {
"title": "State",
"enum": [
"",
"AL",
"AK",
"AZ",
"AR",
"CA",
"CO",
"CT",
"DE",
"DC",
"FL",
"GA",
"HI",
"ID",
"IL",
"IN",
"IA",
"KS",
"KY",
"LA",
"ME",
"MD",
"MA",
"MI",
"MN",
"MS",
"MO",
"MT",
"NE",
"NV",
"NH",
"NJ",
"NM",
"NY",
"NC",
"ND",
"OH",
"OK",
"OR",
"PA",
"RI",
"SC",
"SD",
"TN",
"TX",
"UT",
"VT",
"VA",
"WA",
"WV",
"WI",
"WY",
"PR"
],
"type": "string",
"description": "Two-letter US state code of the recalling firm, for example CA, NY, TX.",
"default": ""
},
"dateFrom": {
"title": "Date From",
"type": "string",
"description": "Only include recalls with an FDA report date on or after this date (YYYY-MM-DD)."
},
"dateTo": {
"title": "Date To",
"type": "string",
"description": "Only include recalls with an FDA report date on or before this date (YYYY-MM-DD)."
},
"proxyConfiguration": {
"title": "Proxy Configuration",
"type": "object",
"description": "Optional. openFDA is a public, open API and does not require a proxy. Leave disabled unless you specifically need to route requests through a proxy.",
"default": {
"useApifyProxy": false
}
}
}
},
"runsResponseSchema": {
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"data": {
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"id": {
"type": "string"
},
"actId": {
"type": "string"
},
"userId": {
"type": "string"
},
"startedAt": {
"type": "string",
"format": "date-time",
"example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z"
},
"finishedAt": {
"type": "string",
"format": "date-time",
"example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z"
},
"status": {
"type": "string",
"example": "READY"
},
"meta": {
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"origin": {
"type": "string",
"example": "API"
},
"userAgent": {
"type": "string"
}
}
},
"stats": {
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"inputBodyLen": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 2000
},
"rebootCount": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"restartCount": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"resurrectCount": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"computeUnits": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
}
}
},
"options": {
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"build": {
"type": "string",
"example": "latest"
},
"timeoutSecs": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 300
},
"memoryMbytes": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 1024
},
"diskMbytes": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 2048
}
}
},
"buildId": {
"type": "string"
},
"defaultKeyValueStoreId": {
"type": "string"
},
"defaultDatasetId": {
"type": "string"
},
"defaultRequestQueueId": {
"type": "string"
},
"buildNumber": {
"type": "string",
"example": "1.0.0"
},
"containerUrl": {
"type": "string"
},
"usage": {
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"DATASET_READS": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"DATASET_WRITES": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 1
},
"KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"PROXY_SERPS": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
}
}
},
"usageTotalUsd": {
"type": "number",
"example": 0.00005
},
"usageUsd": {
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"DATASET_READS": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"DATASET_WRITES": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": {
"type": "number",
"example": 0.00005
},
"KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
},
"PROXY_SERPS": {
"type": "integer",
"example": 0
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
```