Recall Field Guide

A quick guide to the FDA enforcement fields that appear in Recall Radar, written for people trying to decide whether a record might match something they own or use.

Classification

Class I is the FDA's highest concern recall classification. Class II is usually a lower but still meaningful health-risk classification. Class III or unclassified records may still matter, but the immediate risk signal is usually lower or less fully categorized.

Status

Ongoing means the enforcement record has not been marked completed or terminated in the loaded FDA data. Completed or terminated records may still matter if a recalled product is still in a home, cabinet, freezer, clinic, or workplace.

Product and Firm

The product description and recalling firm are starting points, not proof of a match. Packaging can use brand, distributor, manufacturer, model, strength, size, or private-label names that differ from the short FDA record shown here.

Codes and Quantity

Lot, batch, serial, model, UPC, NDC, expiration, and date codes are often the most important match details. Quantity describes the recalled amount in the FDA record; it is not a count of people affected.

Dates

Recall began is when the recalling firm initiated the recall. Reported is when the enforcement record was reported in the FDA data. Either date can lag behind when a product entered a home, pharmacy, facility, or supply chain.

FDA IDs

The recall number and event ID are useful search handles when confirming a record with the FDA, the recalling company, a pharmacist, a clinician, a retailer, or a device support contact.

Use This Guide With The Checklist

After a possible match, compare product, firm, lot/code, distribution, date, quantity, and FDA IDs before acting. For next steps, use the recall action checklist. For how NYN ranks and limits records, read the methodology note.

Return to Recall Radar, scan newly reported recalls, highest concern recalls, ongoing recalls, or browse all latest recalls.