The landscape of product recalls in the United States maintained a concerning trend in 2024, with over 3,200 events documented for the second consecutive year. According to Sedgwick’s 2025 U.S. State of the Nation Recall Index, the tally of 3,232 recalls across five pivotal industries marks the second-highest annual total recorded in the past six years. Notably, the years 2023 and 2024 stand out as the only consecutive years within the last decade where U.S. recall events exceeded 3,200. Interestingly, while the frequency of recalls remained elevated, the number of defective products involved witnessed a significant decline, reaching its lowest level since 2015, with 680.9 million units recalled. This figure starkly contrasts with the nearly 1.5 billion units that were withdrawn from the market just two years prior, in 2022.

Sedgwick’s quarterly index report meticulously analyzes recall data across various sectors, including automotive, consumer products, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices. This special edition not only encompasses events from the fourth quarter of 2024 but also offers a comprehensive year-in-review analysis of recall data and emerging product safety trends. The report highlights that multiple industries achieved noteworthy recall milestones in 2024. The consumer products sector recorded its second-highest recall total in the last eight years, while the medical device sector experienced a four-year high in recall events.

In contrast, the food and beverage industry, which falls under the jurisdiction of the USDA, noted its second-lowest annual recall total in a decade. However, it is essential to mention that this sector set a six-year high in terms of the number of units affected. Meanwhile, the pharmaceutical sector marked an 11-year low in the number of defective units recalled.

Beyond the raw recall statistics, the report delves into crucial insights regarding regulatory developments that shaped the landscape of 2024 and offers forecasts for what stakeholders might anticipate in 2025. A prominent trend that emerged throughout 2024 was litigation, with various organizations initiating lawsuits against government entities and regulators pursuing criminal actions against companies and individuals concerning recall and product safety issues.

Moreover, the food and beverage sector faced several significant recalls in 2024 due to various safety risks, including incidents involving lead-contaminated cinnamon and listeria contamination in deli meats. The repercussions of these recalls are expected to manifest throughout 2025, as the FDA intensifies efforts for greater oversight of ingredients and the USDA reevaluates its inspection and recall protocols.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) also emerged as a focal point for regulators across different industries during 2024, a trend that is likely to persist into 2025 as the U.S. strives to keep pace with rapid technological advancements while ensuring user safety. The uncertainty surrounding whether these enforcement and litigation trends will continue under a new administration, alongside possible shifts in regulatory priorities, remains a topic of speculation.

“It is difficult to say exactly why the number of units recalled continues to fall while the number of product recalls remains high,” remarks Chris Harvey, senior vice president of brand protection at Sedgwick. “Manufacturers may be producing smaller batches, overall production could be down, or improvements in traceability might be allowing companies to more accurately identify defective items. As the new administration develops its agenda, companies may experience some uncertainty with regulatory priorities. In the face of change, it is essential for companies to continue to routinely plan and practice for product recalls and in-market crises.”

For those seeking further insights, the latest U.S. Recall Index report is available for download here.

The Sedgwick Recall Index report is a quarterly publication that stands out as the only report aggregating and tracking recall data across multiple regulatory agencies and industries. This resource is designed to assist stakeholders in navigating the complex regulatory environment, product recalls, and various in-market challenges. For more information, please visit www.sedgwick.com/brandprotection.