Microbial contamination

These recalls involve bacteria, mold, yeast or other microorganisms actually found in the finished product. This overlaps with sterility issues but is tracked separately because it usually points to a specific breakdown - a water system, an unsealed container, a contaminated raw material - rather than a general process failure. It carries a large share of Class I recalls: an organism such as Burkholderia cepacia or Pseudomonas in an eye drop, nasal spray or oral liquid can cause serious infection.