How product recalls work in the U.S., and how to check what you own

No single federal agency handles every recall. Which one is in charge depends on the product: the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) for consumer products, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for motor vehicles, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for medicine, cosmetics and the many foods it regulates, and the Agriculture Department for meat, poultry and egg products.

Recalls.gov, run by the CPSC, describes itself as a "one stop shop" for U.S. government recalls. It was created by six federal agencies and points to each one's recall lists, alerts and reporting tools.

Household products: recalls and warnings

The CPSC was formed in 1972. Its work includes issuing and enforcing mandatory safety standards and "Obtaining the recall of products." CPSC recall notices name a remedy from the company, such as a refund or a replacement. In October 2026, for example, 3M offered a full refund for about 53,634 Scotch thermal laminators that can overheat, and Costway offered free replacements for about 3,332 high chairs that a child can slip through.

When a company does not cooperate, the CPSC can warn the public on its own. On October 15 it told owners of about 393,000 Tristar Power Quick Pot pressure cookers to stop using them, saying the importer "has refused to recall these products or offer a remedy to consumers." On October 22 it warned about squishy toys containing water beads, saying the distributor "has been unresponsive to CPSC's request to recall these squishy toys or offer a remedy to consumers." Our report on the Tristar warning lists other October recalls.

In both warnings, the agency's advice is to stop using the product and dispose of it. Both also say: "Do not sell or give away these hazardous products."

Vehicles and vehicle equipment

Federal law sets out what vehicle owners are entitled to. When a vehicle or piece of equipment has a safety defect or does not meet a federal safety standard, the manufacturer must remedy it "without charge when the vehicle or equipment is presented for remedy."

For a vehicle, the manufacturer may choose to repair it, replace it with an identical or reasonably equivalent vehicle, or refund the purchase price minus a reasonable allowance for depreciation. For equipment, the choices are repair, replacement or refund. The free remedy is not required if the first buyer purchased the vehicle or equipment more than 15 calendar years before the recall notice or order, or a tire more than five calendar years before.

Notices go to each person registered under state law as the owner whose name and address the manufacturer can reasonably find through state records or other sources, or, if a registered owner is not notified, to the most recent purchaser known to the manufacturer.

Food and medicine

The FDA sorts recalls into three classes by how dangerous the product is.

The FDA says recalls "may be conducted on a firm's own initiative, by FDA request, or by FDA order under statutory authority." A market withdrawal is different: it covers a product with a minor violation that would not be subject to FDA legal action.

The FDA's public list of recalls is gathered from press releases and other public notices, and the agency notes that "Not all recalls have press releases or are posted on this page." Entries stay on its website for three years before they are archived. Recent entries in October 2026 included cold-smoked sprats recalled over possible Clostridium botulinum contamination and a raw mild cheddar cheese recalled over possible Shiga toxin-producing E. coli.

For meat, poultry and egg products, the Agriculture Department's Food Safety and Inspection Service is responsible for ensuring that the nation's commercial supply is safe.

How to check what you own

• Model numbers. Recall notices identify products by model; the Tristar cooker's model number is on a label on the back, and the 3M laminator's is on a sticker on the bottom and on the packaging.
• Recall lists. The CPSC recall list covers household products and the FDA recall list covers food and medicine; Recalls.gov links to the lists of the agencies behind it.
• Alerts. The FDA offers email updates on recalls, market withdrawals and safety alerts, and Recalls.gov links to alert sign-ups.
• Proof of purchase. Companies may ask for it: Costway asks for a receipt or photo of the high chair before sending a replacement.
• Disposal. Some remedies require proof that the product was disabled, such as a photo of a cut power cord, and the CPSC says button batteries should go through local hazardous waste procedures.
• Reporting. Recalls.gov links to each agency's tools for reporting dangerous products.