recallsapi.com

Quickstart

Two requests: create a key, then ask whether a product is recalled.

1. Get an API key

Request

curl -X POST https://api.recallsapi.com/v1/keys \
  -H "content-type: application/json" \
  -d '{"email": "you@example.com"}'

Response (202)

{
  "sent": true,
  "email": "you@example.com",
  "note": "Your API key is on its way to this inbox. It is not shown here."
}

The key arrives by email at that address, and only there: store it in a secret manager or an environment variable. New keys start on the Free plan. One free account per inbox: an address that already has an account, or another alias of the same inbox (a +tag, or dots in a Gmail address), answers 409 account_exists. A lost key is recovered by writing to hello@recallsapi.com from that address.

2. Check a product

Request

export RECALLSAPI_KEY="rk_live_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"
curl -s "https://api.recallsapi.com/v1/check?upc=041548000121" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $RECALLSAPI_KEY"

Response (200)

{
  "resolved": {
    "identifiers": [
      {
        "kind": "gtin",
        "value": "00041548000121"
      }
    ],
    "brand": null,
    "name_tokens": []
  },
  "matches": [
    {
      "confidence": "exact",
      "reasons": [
        "gtin 00041548000121"
      ],
      "recall": {
        "id": "fda-H-1268-2026",
        "agency": "FDA",
        "source": "fda_food",
        "source_id": "H-1268-2026",
        "category": "food",
        "title": "Dreyer's Grand  Ice Cream Inc.: Outshine Fruit Bars Black Cherry, 6 Bars, 2",
        "description": "Outshine Fruit Bars Black Cherry, 6 Bars, 2.5 ounce, with UPC 041548000121, packaged in paper outer cartons; individual fruit bars in plastic wrapper.  Keep at 0F (-18C) or colder.",
        "hazard": "Foreign object: products may contain glass pieces",
        "remedy": null,
        "classification": "Class II",
        "status": "ongoing",
        "firms": [
          "Dreyer's Grand  Ice Cream Inc."
        ],
        "products": [
          "Outshine Fruit Bars Black Cherry, 6 Bars, 2.5 ounce, with UPC 041548000121, packaged in paper outer cartons; individual fruit bars in plastic wrapper.  Keep at 0F (-18C) or colder."
        ],
        "distribution": "The adulterated product was distributed to the following States: AL, AR, AZ, CA,CO,CT, FL,GA, IA,ID, IL, KS, LA, MA,MD,MI, MN,MO, NC, ND, NH, NJ, NV, NY, OH, PA, PR, TN TX, UT, VA, VI, WA, and WI.",
        "units": "226 pallets",
        "flags": [],
        "recall_date": "2026-08-18",
        "report_date": "2026-09-02",
        "url": "https://api.fda.gov/food/enforcement.json?search=recall_number:%22H-1268-2026%22",
        "source_url": "https://api.fda.gov/food/enforcement.json?search=recall_number:%22H-1268-2026%22",
        "as_of": "2026-10-06T01:18:39.595Z"
      }
    }
  ]
}

3. Read the result

resolved
How your input was normalized before matching. The 12-digit UPC 041548000121 became the GTIN-14 00041548000121.
matches[].confidence
exact, strong or possible. See confidence levels.
matches[].reasons
What matched: identifier kind and value, brand, or name: with the shared words.
recall.url and recall.source_url
The agency notice and the machine-readable source record. Always show or follow these before acting.
recall.as_of
When recallsapi.com last saw this record change.

A match is information to review against the agency notice, not a safety, legal or compliance determination. An empty matches list is not a safety certification.

Authentication

Base URL and conventions

Check your plan and usage

GET /v1/account is not counted against your quota.

Request

curl -s https://api.recallsapi.com/v1/account -H "Authorization: Bearer $RECALLSAPI_KEY"

Response (200)

{
  "account_id": "acct_7QmV2kR9sLx4TzNa",
  "email": "you@example.com",
  "plan": "free",
  "status": "active",
  "limits": {
    "label": "Free",
    "monthly_usd": 0,
    "daily_calls": 100,
    "catalogs": 1,
    "monitored_products": 100,
    "alerts": false
  },
  "calls_today": 15
}

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