# FDA Recalls & Enforcement Scraper (`martc03/fda-recalls`) Actor

Extracts FDA recall and enforcement data for drugs, food, and medical devices using the openFDA API. Filter by product type, classification, date range.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/martc03/fda-recalls.md
- **Developed by:** [CoDee](https://apify.com/martc03) (community)
- **Categories:** Other, Automation
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $0.01 / 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?

Actors are web data automations that power AI and operations. They run on the Apify platform to scrape websites, process data, connect APIs, and automate workflows.
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.

- **AI agents and MCP clients** — the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md) at `https://mcp.apify.com` (remote, streamable HTTP, OAuth on first use).
- **Agentic workflows and local Actor development** — [Agent Skills](https://apify.com/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json) with the [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): `npm install -g apify-cli`, then `apify login`.
- **JavaScript/TypeScript projects** — the official [JS/TS client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): `npm install apify-client`.
- **Python projects** — the official [Python client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): `pip install apify-client`.
- **Any other language** — 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

## :pill: FDA Recalls Tracker

Search the **FDA enforcement and recall database** via the [openFDA API](https://open.fda.gov/) — covering **drug, food, and medical device recalls** across the United States. Thousands of active and historical recalls with classification severity, company details, and distribution patterns.

### What data does it extract?

For each recall, the Actor extracts:

| Field | Description |
|-------|-------------|
| **Recall Number** | FDA recall identifier |
| **Product Type** | Drug, food, or device |
| **Classification** | Severity: Class I (most serious), Class II, or Class III |
| **Status** | Ongoing, Completed, Terminated, or Pending |
| **Recalling Firm** | Company that initiated the recall |
| **Product Description** | What was recalled |
| **Reason for Recall** | Why the product was recalled |
| **Distribution Pattern** | Where the product was distributed |
| **Dates** | Recall initiation, classification, and termination dates |
| **Location** | City, state, and country of the recalling firm |

### Output example

```json
{
  "recallNumber": "D-0123-2026",
  "productType": "drug",
  "classification": "Class II",
  "status": "Ongoing",
  "recallingFirm": "Acme Pharmaceuticals Inc",
  "city": "Parsippany",
  "state": "NJ",
  "country": "United States",
  "productDescription": "Ibuprofen Tablets, 200 mg, 100 count bottles",
  "reasonForRecall": "Failed dissolution specifications",
  "codeInfo": "Lot# AB1234, Exp 12/2026",
  "productQuantity": "50,000 bottles",
  "distributionPattern": "Nationwide",
  "recallInitiationDate": "20260115",
  "voluntaryMandated": "Voluntary: Firm initiated",
  "scrapedAt": "2026-02-25T12:00:00.000Z",
  "sourceUrl": "https://api.fda.gov/drug/enforcement.json"
}
```

### Input options

| Parameter | Type | Description |
|-----------|------|-------------|
| `productType` | string | Which database to query: `drug`, `food`, or `device`. Default: `drug`. |
| `status` | string | Filter by status: Ongoing, Completed, Terminated, Pending. Leave empty for all. |
| `classification` | string | Filter by severity: `Class I`, `Class II`, or `Class III`. Leave empty for all. |
| `searchText` | string | Free text search across all fields (company name, product, reason, etc.). |
| `dateFrom` | string | Start date in YYYY-MM-DD format. |
| `dateTo` | string | End date in YYYY-MM-DD format. |
| `maxRecords` | integer | Maximum records to fetch. Default: 1,000. |

### Classification severity

| Class | Severity | Description |
|-------|----------|-------------|
| **Class I** | Most serious | Products that could cause serious health problems or death |
| **Class II** | Moderate | Products that might cause temporary or reversible health effects |
| **Class III** | Least serious | Products unlikely to cause adverse health reactions |

### Use cases

- **Food safety teams** — Monitor recalls affecting your supply chain or product categories
- **Pharmaceutical companies** — Track competitor recalls and industry-wide quality trends
- **Healthcare providers** — Stay informed about drug and device recalls affecting patients
- **Compliance officers** — Ensure recalled products are removed from distribution channels
- **Law firms** — Research recall histories for product liability and class action cases
- **Investors** — Monitor recall activity as a risk indicator for pharma and food companies
- **Data journalists** — Report on recall trends, repeat offenders, and public safety patterns

### Data freshness

The FDA updates this database **daily**. Schedule this Actor to run daily or weekly to track new recalls.

### Cost

This Actor uses the openFDA public API. Typical cost: **less than $0.01 per run** for up to 1,000 records.

# Actor input Schema

## `productType` (type: `string`):

Which FDA database to query: drug, food, or device recalls.

## `status` (type: `string`):

Filter by recall status. Options: Ongoing, Completed, Terminated, Pending. Leave empty for all.

## `classification` (type: `string`):

Filter by recall severity. Class I = dangerous/defective products that could cause serious health problems or death. Class II = products that might cause a temporary health problem or pose a slight threat of a serious nature. Class III = products that are unlikely to cause adverse health reactions but violate FDA regulations. Leave empty for all.

## `searchText` (type: `string`):

Free text search across all fields (company name, reason for recall, product description, etc.).

## `dateFrom` (type: `string`):

Only include recalls reported on or after this date (YYYY-MM-DD format, e.g., 2024-01-01).

## `dateTo` (type: `string`):

Only include recalls reported on or before this date (YYYY-MM-DD format, e.g., 2026-12-31).

## `maxRecords` (type: `integer`):

Maximum number of records to fetch. Default: 1,000.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "productType": "drug",
  "maxRecords": 1000
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `overview` (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 '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("martc03/fda-recalls").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 = {}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("martc03/fda-recalls").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 '{}' |
apify call martc03/fda-recalls --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,martc03/fda-recalls"
        }
    }
}

```

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/Bo7O1kvdpqvW5zW5x/builds/nbrJDY9CuVg5xEIVN/openapi.json