FDA offers formatted data on recalls

FDA is now offering formatted data on product recalls. It's part of the HHS Open Government Initiative to make data publicly available.

Eye on FDA notes that that the regulator is now offering formatted data on product recalls. It's part of the HHS Open Government Initiative to make data publicly available.

The "Recalls" Internet page data, which covers 2009 and 2010, is based on press releases issued by the recalling companies. Two types of data sets are available: open-format downloads and Internet-based interactive data sets. Also included on the Recalls page is a two-minute video for consumers explaining how the FDA manages product recalls.

The Recalls data set page is separate from, but links to, the long-established "Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts" page. The latter stretches back to 2004.

The "Recalls" page resides in the "About FDA" section of the regulator's Internet site, while the "Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts" page sits in the "Safety" section.