US Sees 27% Increase in Product Recalls in Q1, Report Shows

U.S. product recall activity remained elevated in the first quarter of 2026, a new report shows.

Sedgwick’s quarterly Product Safety and Recall Index shows the volume of defective products recalled across five U.S. industries rose 27% quarter-over-quarter to 492 million units in Q1 2026.

That rise is despite the number of recall events falling 10.5% to 785 in the first quarter from 877 events in Q4 2025.

According to the report, the data indicate that while fewer recalls were announced overall, the scale and impact of individual events continued to intensify.

Sedgwick’s report examines recall activity affecting the U.S. automotive, consumer products, food and drink, pharmaceutical, and medical device industries.

According to the report, the consumer products sector was the only industry to record an increase in recall events, rising 14.5%. The sector also saw a 347% increase in recalled units quarter-over-quarter.

The automotive sector had its highest quarterly total in two years with about 12.2 million units recalled, while the pharmaceutical sector reached a four-year high with about 218.8 million units impacted.

In the food sector, recalls regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture accounted for 37.1 million pounds of product, the third-highest total in more than two decades, the report found.

The report also analyzed what’s ahead for businesses, including new regulations and global events.

“In the first quarter of 2026, the conflict with Iran drove oil prices up, which had a ripple effect on the cost and availability of certain goods,” said Sedgwick. “Restrictions on shipping routes also impacted supply chains, including fertilizer for growing crops, which could have a long-term impact on food prices.”