U.S. product recalls hit 10-year high, according to report 

Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.

U.S. product recalls overview: 

• Who: Sedgwick brand protection released its U.S. product recall index report for the first quarter of 2022. 
• Why: The report shows product recalls in the United States have reached a 10-year high in the automotive, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, medical device and consumer product industries.  
• Where: The report evaluates recalls that occurred throughout the United States. 

Product recalls in the United States reached a 10-year high, according to the latest Sedgwick brand protection U.S. product recall index report. 

More than 900 units have already been recalled in the first quarter of 2022 in the automotive, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, medical device and consumer product industries, according to the report. 

The amount of recalls is the highest seen in a single quarter in the previous 10 years, according to Sedgwick, which notes the amount also exceeds average annual figures recorded across the same time.

“U.S. regulators have started off 2022 with increased enforcement activity and stricter scrutiny over the automotive, consumer product, food and beverage, pharmaceutical and medical device industries,” the report says. 

Among the first-quarter activity were 221 automotive recalls affecting a total of 9.3 million units — a 114% increase over last year’s quarterly average. 

Consumer product recalls, meanwhile, rose by 63.8% in the first quarter of 2022, a 63.8% increase, to reach their highest amount in five years, according to Sedgwick. 

Average size of food recalls increased by 1.3 million units

Food recalls initiated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reportedly decreased by 12.7%; however, the average size of each recall rose to 1.3 million units, an increase of 328.4%.

The number of units per food recall is the highest it has been in the past 12 years, according to Sedgwick, which noted the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) was the “only regulator to see the number of recalled units fall.”

Recalls for medical devices and pharmaceuticals also each increased in the first quarter with average recall sizes of 1.5 million units and 4.6 million units, respectively. 

Both of the average recall sizes for medical devices and pharmaceuticals represent the largest amount seen in the past 15 years, according to Sedgwick. 

 Companies will need to continue being vigilant in the face of obstacles caused by the ongoing pandemic, new challenges and increased regulatory activity, Sedgwick Senior Vice President Chris Harvey said in a statement.

“Companies should take every opportunity to evaluate and bolster their recall management, crisis and communications plans to ensure they are prepared for the next product crisis,” Harvey said. 

Businesses are collectively forced to recall a large number of products each year over concerns they may pose a risk to consumer health. Commonly recalled items include food products, baby products, medical devices, cars and children’s products, among others. 

Have you purchased or owned a product that has been involved in a recall this year? Let us know in the comments! 

Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:

• Hisense recalls French door refrigerators due to potential injury risk
• Goodyear recalls 173K tires due to tread separation
• Strawberry tea recalled due to potential hepatitis A
• Target, Joey recall children’s pajamas due to burn hazard