From children’s toys to lifesaving medical equipment, product recalls in the United States continue to climb, and in many cases, they are linked to serious injuries or even fatalities. A new analysis from Injured In Florida shows that while recall numbers dipped slightly in 2024, the overall trend remains troubling, with hundreds of millions of products pulled from circulation across key industries.
According to Sedgwick Brand Protection, there were 3,232 recall events in 2024, down slightly from 3,301 in 2023. But the scale remains massive: nearly 681 million units were recalled last year alone — the equivalent of two recalled items for every person in the U.S.
The first quarter of 2025 has already seen a 25% rise in recalls compared to the previous year, suggesting the problem is worsening.
Consumer Products and Toys: A Growing Threat
The consumer product sector accounted for 299 recalls in 2024, covering more than 80.9 million units. Fires, choking hazards, electrical malfunctions, and labeling errors were the most common issues.
Toys represented one of the largest recall categories, with more than 22 million units affected. Major cases included:
- Playskool Klackeroo: 550,000 toys recalled after loose pieces posed choking hazards.
- Leapfrog Alphabet Pal: 500,000 pulled for dangerous connectors.
- MGA Entertainment Miniverse kits: 21 million recalled after toxic liquid resins caused skin and respiratory irritation.
- Lovevery Slide Seek Ball Runs: 40,000 recalled for choking hazards.
- Huffy Ride-On Utility Vehicles: 12,400 recalled due to wiring malfunctions and overheating.
Other recalls involved tiaras with unsafe lead levels, toy forts with exposed button batteries, and children’s garden kits containing excessive lead.
Baby Products: High Recall, High Risk
Infant products also ranked among the most dangerous in 2024, with recalls tied to suffocation, falls, entrapment, and bacterial contamination.
Examples include:
- Fisher-Price Snuga Swings: 2 million units recalled for suffocation hazards.
- Nutrimagen Infant Formula: 675,000 batches recalled for bacterial contamination.
- Papablic infant swings: 2,700 units recalled for choking and suffocation risks.
- Crate & Barrel cribs: 3,200 recalled for fall hazards.
- Yoto Toy Speakers: 250,000 recalled due to fire and burn risks.
“Products designed for children should be the safest of all,” said a spokesperson for Injured In Florida. “But year after year, recalls show that design flaws and manufacturing errors put babies and toddlers at significant risk.”
Medical Devices and Pharmaceuticals: Dangerous Consequences
The medical device industry recorded 1,059 recalls in 2024, impacting more than 440 million units. Defective blood pumps, infusion systems, and CPAP machines all made headlines. Some failures caused serious injuries, and in certain cases, deaths.
The pharmaceutical sector faced 356 recalls, covering 41.35 million units. Common problems included contamination, failed potency, and carcinogenic ingredients.
Major recalls included:
- Philips Respironics CPAP and BiPAP machines: 15 million recalled worldwide due to toxic foam breakdown.
- Duloxetine (Cymbalta): 233,000 bottles recalled after carcinogenic compounds were discovered.
- Proactiv and La Roche-Posay acne treatments: 2.2 million recalled for high benzene levels.
- Fresh & Ready Foods meals: dozens of products recalled after Listeria contamination hospitalized 10 people.
Food and Automotive Recalls
The food sector recorded 495 recalls in 2024, pulling 66.2 million products from circulation. Contamination from E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria dominated the data, with ground beef, dairy, and prepared foods most at risk.
The automotive industry issued 988 recalls, affecting more than 32 million vehicles. Airbag malfunctions, electrical system failures, and steering problems were among the leading issues.
Human Toll: Injuries and Deaths
Defective products aren’t just numbers on a report — they’re linked to 869 injuries and 25 deaths in 2024.
- Consumer goods caused burns, lacerations, fractures, and suffocation.
- Medical devices led to internal injuries, heart complications, and fatalities.
- Pharmaceuticals were tied to overdoses, poisoning, and long-term illness.
- Food recalls resulted in more than 1,400 illnesses, 487 hospitalizations, and 19 deaths.
What Consumers Can Do
Consumers are urged to:
- Check recalls.gov, FDA, or CPSC notices to verify products.
- Stop using recalled items immediately, even if they seem safe.
- Follow manufacturer’s instructions for returns or refunds.
- Dispose of recalled products safely, especially items hazardous to children or pets.
- Seek medical attention if symptoms develop after using recalled food, medication, or devices.
Legal Help After a Recall Injury
If you or a loved one has been harmed by a defective or recalled product, legal action may be an option.
“Manufacturers and distributors have a duty to ensure the safety of their products,” the spokesperson added. “When they fail, the consequences can be devastating — but families do not have to face those challenges alone.”
Injured in Florida has decades of experience helping clients recover damages for injuries linked to defective consumer products, unsafe food, faulty medical devices, and dangerous pharmaceuticals.
