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# Drug Recalls Dropped in 2nd Quarter
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/drug-recalls-dropped-in-2nd-quarter/
- Published: 2018-08-08T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-15T00:24:37.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: Drugs, Devices, #legacy-id-D5142068

The Stericycle Recall Index says that pharmaceutical recalls dropped 27% to 77 in the second quarter of 2018\. That was lower than in six of the last eight quarters. Recalled units dropped 95% to nearly 15.9 million, lower than four of the last six quarters, the [report](https://www.stericycleexpertsolutions.com/recall-index/?ref=fdaweb.com#recall) says, but in line with the average quarter from 2013 to 2016.

The average recall size was 205,804 units, Stericycle says, more than seven of the last 11 quarters. For the eighth quarter in a row, the top cause of recalls was failed specifications, followed by CGMP deviations, mislabeling, and foreign materials.

For medical devices, recalls increased in the second quarter by 5% to 360, making it the largest quarter since 2005 and surpassing the last quarter’s record by 17 recalls. Recalled units decreased 80% to about 42.4 million, lower than eight of the previous 13 quarters.

The average medical device recall size was 117,774, the lowest since the first quarter of 2017 and down considerably from last quarter’s 607,512\. According to Stericycle, software issues were the top cause of recalls (22.8%) for the ninth quarter in a row, followed by mislabeling, quality, and manufacturing defect issues.

Some 16 companies reported at least five recalls, the largest since the third quarter of 2013.