Over the Last Few Years, There’s Been a Rise In Recalled U.S. Products – Some Causing Injuries. Here Are The Main Offenders
We’ve all heard about products being recalled from store shelves, and some of us have even been the recipients of goods that need to be returned. But which products are most often recalled? And what are some of the more serious consequences of recalled products?
This study considers a recent rise in recalled products. We also look into the details of the most common reasons for product recalls, what you can do about a recalled product, and what to do if you’re injured by a recalled product.
Recalled U.S. Products: The Numbers
In 2024, there were 3,232 product recalls, a 2.1% decrease on 2023 numbers. That said, analysis of Sedgwick Brand Protection study data reveals that the
The same source confirms a significant rise (25% across the five key consumer sectors) during the first quarter of 2025 in 2024 product recall numbers. Simply put: recall numbers are high and have remained high for several years, despite minor fluctuations.
Across the five key consumer sectors – food and drink, automotive, pharmaceutical, medical devices, and consumer products – a breakdown of the 3,232 recall events in 2024 looks like this:
Consumer Products
The consumer products sector featured 299 product recalls that consisted of 80.9 million units, with fire the leading cause of recalls. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) data also lists choking hazards (especially with toys and smaller items), incorrect labeling (which can lead to allergies and other health risks), manufacturing defects, and electrical hazards as the other primary reasons for consumer product recall.
The top 5 consumer product categories are electronics, personal care, home appliances, kitchen products, and toys. Scrutinising that latter category a little more closely: toys represent a huge part of consumer product recall, with CPSC data confirming that 22 million of the 80.9 million consumer product units recalled in 2024 were toys. Here are the ten most recalled toy brands.
- Leapfrog’s Alphabet Pal was subject to 500,000 recalls due to a choking hazard (a red plastic connector on the toy’s pull string.
- Mattel, which owns the Fisher–Price brand, has been involved in various recalls for numerous reasons, including choking hazards and flammable material risks.
- Walmart’s Huffy Torex 24V Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) ride-on toy was recalled due to a wiring malfunction that caused overheating, with 12,400 units affected.
- Amazon recalled items such as the ZYHLTD Suction Cup Spinner Toy Set, the INSTOY Montessori Pull String Toy, and Modi Toys’ Mantra Singing Plush Toys for choking hazards.
- Lovevery recalled over 40,000 of its Slide Seek Ball Runs due to wooden knob choking hazards.
- Playskool’s Klackeroo toy saw 550,000 units recalled due to small, geometric-shaped pieces coming loose, posing a choking hazard to infants and young children.
- MGA Entertainment recalled 21 million units of its Miniverse Make It Mini sets due to dangerous liquid resins and the associated risk of skin, eye, and respiratory irritation or sensitization.
- Yaomiao recalled around 12,500 children’s rhinestone silver tiaras due to a violation of lead content regulations.
- Red Toolbox recalled over 450,000 of its Stanley Jr. Kids Garden Sets due to lead poisoning, which violates federal regulations.
- Intellio Toys’ Bright Builder Fort Kits saw over 12,000 units recalled due to easily accessible button cell batteries that could cause chemical burns or even kill if swallowed.
While toys can endanger children, baby products can also represent an enormous risk. From suffocation, entrapment, and fall hazards, to bacterial contamination and burn risk, the grim possibilities are wide-ranging.
According to Babylist data, here are the top ten recalled baby products in 2024.
Top 10 Recalled Baby Products (and the Reason(s) for Recall)
- Fisher Price Snuga Swings: Over 2 million units were recalled due to a suffocation hazard.
- Nutrimagen Infant Formula: Over 675,000 batches were recalled due to bacterial contamination.
- MamiBaby, Cosy Nation Baby lounger: 32,270 loungers were affected in this recall due to suffocation and fall hazards.
- Papablic infant swings: 2,700 swings were affected in this recall due to suffocation risks and battery choking hazards.
- CVS Health/ H–E–B Infant Formula: 16,500 cans of formula were recalled due to high levels of vitamin D which can cause vomiting and nausea.
- Stiger Bersey Twin Strollers: 3,045 strollers were included in this recall due to entrapment, fall risk, and choking hazard.
- Crecelac Infant Formula: Over 16,000 cans of this formula were affected in this recall due to the product not being FDA compliant and bacterial contamination being present.
- Crate & Barrel Cribs: Around 3,200 of these cribs were recalled as fall hazards.
- Yoto Toy Speakers: Over 250,000 of these speakers can cause fire and burns.
- Fisher Price Little People Mickey and Friends: 205,000 of these toys were included in this recall due to the detachable heads being a choking hazard.
There were 1,059 recalls (440.4 million units) across the medical device sector. The top 5 reasons for recall were:
- Devices that failed to operate properly
- Quality issues
- Software issues
- Mislabeling
- Parts issues.
As for pharmaceutical products, there were 356 product recalls amounting to 41.35 million units. Primary reasons for the recall of pharmaceutical products include:
- Failed specifications
- Sterile products
- Contaminated products
- Foreign materials in the products.
Other pharmaceutical product problems include inconsistent potency, potential blindness-causing elements, potential overdose issues, and carcinogens. These issues affect Fentanyl patches, Cymbalta, over-the-counter eye drops, and even generic medications.
Ten significant examples of recalled health-related products (and the reason(s) for recall)
- Systane Lubricant Eye Drops: one lot was recalled due to fungal contamination.
- Proactiv, La Roche–Posay, SLMD Acne Treatments: Over 2.2 million units were affected in this particular recall due to high levels of benzene (a known carcinogen).
- MadeGood Granola Bars (U.S. and Canada): 2.4 million cases of granola bars affected by metal fragments.
- Philips Respironics CPAP and BiPAP machines: 15 million devices worldwide were recalled due to foam that degrades, leading to the inhalation of harmful particles.
- Fresh & Ready Foods Ready–to–Eat Products: Over 80 specific products were affected by Listeria contamination, which hospitalized 10 people.
- Duloxetine (Cymbalta): Over 233,000 bottles of duloxetine were recalled due to carcinogenic nitrosamine, a cancer-causing ingredient.
- Walmart Great Value Apple Juice: Over 140,000 cases were included in this recall due to raised arsenic levels (13 parts per billion (ppb)), slightly above the 10 ppb deemed safe by the FDA.
- Levothyroxine Sodium: Over 35,000 bottles were recalled due to a potency failure (inaccurate/ineffective level of ingredients).
- Impella Left–Sided Blood Pumps by Abiomed: Over 66,000 devices were recalled due to the risk of motor damage after contact with transcatheter aortic valve replacement stents. This caused over 129 serious injuries, with 49 deaths attributed to this device.
- Glenmark Pharmaceuticals (producer of generic drugs): Over 39 different generic medications were affected in this recall due to failed dissolution.
The automotive sector was subject to 988 product recalls, with 32.04 million units affected. Vehicles are complicated feats of engineering and computing, with thousands of potential failures. Here are the five broad main categories concerning automotive recalls.
- Electrical system faults
- Equipment issues
- Steering faults
- Structure issues
- Airbag faults
The fifth key consumer sector, food, was subject to 495 Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recalls, with 66.2 million affected products pulled from circulation. The main food product recall areas were:
- Prepared foods
- Baked goods
- Flavoring
- Dairy
- Products (raw ingredients).
Although it’s difficult to pin down exact numbers, the following 10 grocery stores all had to recall multiple products over 2024.
- Walmart
- Kroger
- Albertsons
- Trader Joe’s
- Publix
- Target
- Amazon Fresh
- Aldi
- Giant Eagle
- Costco
With the complexities involved regarding supply chains, deliveries, storage, and shipment, perishable goods are always likely to be susceptible to issues, regardless of the store in question.
Undeclared allergens, bacterial contamination, and packaging defects were the three main causes of recalls. The United States Department of Agriculture initiated 35 significant food recalls in 2024, involving 19.93 million pounds of contaminated goods, with E.Coli, Salmonella, and Listeria the main contaminants, and ground beef in particular affected.
Pet food products are just as susceptible to contamination and other potentially harmful issues. These are 2024’s 10 most recalled pet food products (with the reason(s) for recall).
- Blue Ridge Beef Puppy & Kitten Mix: Over 2,000 pounds of product recalled due to Salmonella and Listeria contamination.
- Viva Raw Cat & Dog Food: Multiple batches that were distributed nationwide were recalled due to Listeria contamination.
- Purina Pro Plan Elemental: Multiple batches fell under this recall due to elevated levels of Vitamin D.
- Victor Premium Dog Food: Over 2,000 pounds of this brand were recalled due to Salmonella contamination.
- TFP Nutrition – dog food and cat food: Multiple batches recalled due to Salmonella contamination.
- Gaines Family Treats – Chicken Chips Dog Treats: 204 bags were affected due to Salmonella contamination.
- Carolina Prime Pet – Chicken Chips Dog Treats: 400 bags were affected due to Salmonella contamination.
- ANSWERS Beef & Chicken Dog Food: Many batches were recalled due to Salmonella and Listeria contamination.
- ADM Animal Nutrition – Animal Feed: 33 lots were affected by elevated levels of minerals.
- 3–D Pet Products’ Parrot Food: Multiple batches were affected by Salmonella contamination.
2024 study data tells us that, overall, 680.87 million units were recalled—the equivalent of two recalled products per person in the United States.
Recalled products can pose extremely serious risks that regularly go unnoticed until it’s too late. From everyday household items to essential medical equipment, these hazards can have deeply serious consequences.
Worst Case Scenarios: The Damage Faulty Products Cause
The type of injuries defective products can cause are wide-ranging and are sometimes severe or even life-threatening. In 2024, there were 869 injuries and 25 deaths reported due to the use of recalled products.
Depending on the type of product and the defect, injuries can include burns from faulty electronics, lacerations or amputations from malfunctioning tools or machinery, fractures from collapsing furniture, or poisoning from contaminated food, cosmetics, and household chemicals.
In more serious cases, defective medical devices or medications can inflict internal injuries, long-term disabilities, or fatal complications. These types of injuries don’t just cause physical harm: they also lead to emotional trauma, loss of income, and ongoing medical costs.
Injuries and Deaths by the Consumer Sector
Consumer products
Defective platform beds, garment steamers, mugs, wireless charging banks, portable blenders, bookcases, infant swings, adult bed railings, spa pumps, and portable power stations have all injured users. Injuries range from cuts and lacerations to a fatality from a fall from a faulty bed or swing.
Medical devices
Heart pumps, infusion pumps, pacemakers, and metal hip replacements can fail if they malfunction, with possible dire consequences and even fatalities. Loose particles from metal hip replacements can also cause serious complications.
Pharmaceutical products
Duloxetine, Pravastatin, and Lisinopril can all cause serious illness, injury, or even death.
Automotive
Tesla, Ford, Chrysler, Honda, and General Motors vehicles are those most often recalled. Common reasons for recalls include faulty brakes, airbag defects, and steering and acceleration issues.
However, due to contemporary digital car technology becoming an increasingly significant factor, recalls are increasingly software or electrical system-related.
Food
2024 saw 1,400 cases of foodborne illness, 487 food-related hospitalizations, and 19 food-related deaths. Affected brands include Quaker, Boar’s Head, Dole, Fresh Express, and Great Value Brand; issues ranged from E.coli, Salmonella and Listeria, to foreign material such as wood chips or metal fragments being found in food.
What to Do If You’ve Bought a Recalled Product
If you discover a recalled product in your home, you need to act quickly to limit any potential risk. First of all, immediately stop using the item (even if it seems safe) as continuing to use it could lead to serious injuries or illness.
Also, make sure you verify the product recall details through sources like Recalls.gov, the FDA, or the Consumer Product Safety Commission, to make sure your specific product is affected. Manufacturers usually provide clear instructions on what to do next, whether that’s returning the product for a refund, getting a replacement, or safely disposing of the item.
If you do need to dispose of the product, seal it and keep it away from children and pets. For food product recalls, make sure you clean and sanitize any surfaces or utensils the product has touched.
If you’ve already used or consumed the item and experience symptoms like nausea, allergic reactions, or other health issues, contact a medical professional immediately.
As personal injury experts, The Schiller Kessler Group is here to help you with any injuries you’ve suffered due to inadequate products. If you think we might be able to help, get in touch with us today.
