recallwhere

RecallWhere is a web-based platform and data ecosystem designed to help consumers locate and respond to product recalls. It aggregates recall notices from manufacturers, consumer safety agencies, and retailers, and links them to items registered in the system. The goal is to provide timely alerts and practical safety guidance to households.

Users can search by product name, model number, serial or batch code; scan barcodes via a mobile app; or set automated alerts for specific products, brands, or categories. The platform offers a regional risk map that highlights recalls active in a user’s area, plus step-by-step safety guidance, suggested disposal or return options, and timelines for recall completion.

Data are collected from official recall notices and supplier feeds, harmonized into a common schema, and timestamped. To improve accuracy, RecallWhere supports user-submitted corrections and verification workflows with partner organizations, and maintains a versioned history of recall records.

Governance and privacy: RecallWhere is managed by a consortium focused on consumer safety. It emphasizes privacy-by-design, minimizes personal data collection, provides opt-in alerts, and offers data deletion options. An application programming interface is available under data-use agreements for retailers, manufacturers, and safety agencies.

Impact and outlook: Since the platform’s early-2020s rollout, RecallWhere has aided households in identifying recalled items and following appropriate safety steps. Limitations include data latency, barcode variations, and uneven coverage across regions. Future directions include expanded coverage for durable goods and vehicles, multilingual support, and tighter integration with smart home and retail systems.