Independent register of U.S. FDA drug recalls · updated Oct 10, 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

CEFTAZIDIME INTRAVITREAL 2.25MG/0.1ML Solution

Lack of Assurance of Sterility: FDA inspection found the recalled products were produced in a manner than cannot guarantee the sterility of the products purported to be sterile.

Ongoing Sterility / contamination Pharmacy Plus, Inc. dba Vital Care Compounder D-0030-2023
Class II · Moderate risk

Brilliant Blue G

Lack of Assurance of Sterility: FDA inspection found the recalled products were produced in a manner than cannot guarantee the sterility of the products purported to be sterile.

Ongoing Sterility / contamination Pharmacy Plus, Inc. dba Vital Care Compounder D-0029-2023
Class II · Moderate risk

Autologus Tears Serum Soln Full Strength

Lack of Assurance of Sterility: FDA inspection found the recalled products were produced in a manner than cannot guarantee the sterility of the products purported to be sterile.

Ongoing Sterility / contamination Pharmacy Plus, Inc. dba Vital Care Compounder D-0028-2023
Class II · Moderate risk

ACETYLCYSTEINE OPTH 5% Solution

Lack of Assurance of Sterility: FDA inspection found the recalled products were produced in a manner than cannot guarantee the sterility of the products purported to be sterile.

Ongoing Sterility / contamination Pharmacy Plus, Inc. dba Vital Care Compounder D-0027-2023
Class II · Moderate risk

ACETYLCYSTEINE OPTH 10% Solution

Lack of Assurance of Sterility: FDA inspection found the recalled products were produced in a manner than cannot guarantee the sterility of the products purported to be sterile.

Ongoing Sterility / contamination Pharmacy Plus, Inc. dba Vital Care Compounder D-0026-2023
Class II · Moderate risk

Sodium Chloride Ophthalmic Ointment USP

cGMP Deviations: Turbidity discovered in Artificial Tears Ointment during sterility testing. Scope expanded to include other lots and products which potentially share the same root cause.

Terminated Sterility / contamination Akorn, Inc. NDC 17478-622-35 D-1496-2022
Class II · Moderate risk

Lidocaine Hydrochloride Jelly USP

cGMP Deviations: Turbidity discovered in Artificial Tears Ointment during sterility testing. Scope expanded to include other lots and products which potentially share the same root cause.

Terminated Sterility / contamination Akorn, Inc. NDC 17478-711-31 D-1495-2022