Independent register of U.S. FDA drug recalls · updated Oct 11, 2026
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Sterility & contamination

A product that must be sterile could not be assured sterile, or was contaminated. A top reason for injectables, eye drops and IV products - loss of sterility assurance can lead to serious infections.

6,317 FDA drug recalls with this cause, newest first.

This is the single biggest cause in the register by a wide margin. It covers products that had to be sterile - injectables, eye drops, certain ointments - but could not be verified sterile, or were found contaminated during testing. Most of these recalls come from compounding pharmacies and outsourcing facilities after an FDA inspection finds gaps in how sterile products were made. Sterility failures are treated seriously because the products involved have the least room for error, going straight into the bloodstream or the eye.

Class II · Moderate risk

Selenium 200 mcg/ml Injectable

Lack of Assurance of Sterility; FDA inspection identified GMP violations potentially impacting product quality and sterility

Terminated Sterility / contamination The Compounding Pharmacy of America D-1628-2015
Class II · Moderate risk

Polidocanol 5% Injection

Lack of Assurance of Sterility; FDA inspection identified GMP violations potentially impacting product quality and sterility

Terminated Sterility / contamination The Compounding Pharmacy of America D-1625-2015
Class II · Moderate risk

Polidocanol 1% Injection

Lack of Assurance of Sterility; FDA inspection identified GMP violations potentially impacting product quality and sterility

Terminated Sterility / contamination The Compounding Pharmacy of America D-1624-2015
Class II · Moderate risk

PGE 80 (Alprostadil)

Lack of Assurance of Sterility; FDA inspection identified GMP violations potentially impacting product quality and sterility

Terminated Sterility / contamination The Compounding Pharmacy of America D-1622-2015
Class II · Moderate risk

PGE 40 (Alprostadil)

Lack of Assurance of Sterility; FDA inspection identified GMP violations potentially impacting product quality and sterility

Terminated Sterility / contamination The Compounding Pharmacy of America D-1621-2015
Class II · Moderate risk

PGE 150 (Alprostadil)

Lack of Assurance of Sterility; FDA inspection identified GMP violations potentially impacting product quality and sterility

Terminated Sterility / contamination The Compounding Pharmacy of America D-1620-2015
Class II · Moderate risk

Oxytocin 100 units/ml Injection

Lack of Assurance of Sterility; FDA inspection identified GMP violations potentially impacting product quality and sterility

Terminated Sterility / contamination The Compounding Pharmacy of America D-1619-2015
Class II · Moderate risk

Morphine 70 mg/ml + Clonidine 1

Lack of Assurance of Sterility; FDA inspection identified GMP violations potentially impacting product quality and sterility

Terminated Sterility / contamination The Compounding Pharmacy of America D-1615-2015
Class II · Moderate risk

Morphine 60 mg/ml Solution

Lack of Assurance of Sterility; FDA inspection identified GMP violations potentially impacting product quality and sterility

Terminated Sterility / contamination The Compounding Pharmacy of America D-1612-2015
Class II · Moderate risk

Morphine 50 mg/ml +Fentanyl 1

Lack of Assurance of Sterility; FDA inspection identified GMP violations potentially impacting product quality and sterility

Terminated Sterility / contamination The Compounding Pharmacy of America D-1611-2015
Class II · Moderate risk

Morphine 50 mg/ml Solution

Lack of Assurance of Sterility; FDA inspection identified GMP violations potentially impacting product quality and sterility

Terminated Sterility / contamination The Compounding Pharmacy of America D-1607-2015
Class II · Moderate risk

Morphine 45 mg/ml Solution

Lack of Assurance of Sterility; FDA inspection identified GMP violations potentially impacting product quality and sterility

Terminated Sterility / contamination The Compounding Pharmacy of America D-1605-2015