# openFDA Scraper (`straightforward_hydra/openfda-scraper`) Actor

Recalls (drug/device/food), adverse events and drug labels from the official openFDA API. No API key.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/straightforward\_hydra/openfda-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [Dev D](https://apify.com/straightforward_hydra) (community)
- **Categories:** Automation, Developer tools, Other
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $3.00 / 1,000 records

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

Actors are web data automations that power AI and operations. They run on the Apify platform to scrape websites, process data, connect APIs, and automate workflows.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.
Actors are written with capital "A".

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.
The best way to integrate Actors is as follows.

- **AI agents and MCP clients** — the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md) at `https://mcp.apify.com` (remote, streamable HTTP, OAuth on first use).
- **Agentic workflows and local Actor development** — [Agent Skills](https://apify.com/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json) with the [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): `npm install -g apify-cli`, then `apify login`.
- **JavaScript/TypeScript projects** — the official [JS/TS client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): `npm install apify-client`.
- **Python projects** — the official [Python client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): `pip install apify-client`.
- **Any other language** — the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md).

For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below.

For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt).

# README

## openFDA Scraper 💊

**Drug, device and food recalls, adverse-event reports and drug labels from the official openFDA API. No API key, no login.**

Pull clean, structured regulatory data straight from the U.S. FDA's [openFDA](https://open.fda.gov) API: product **recalls** (enforcement reports) for drugs, medical devices and food; **adverse-event** reports; and **drug labels**. Filter by classification, status, firm, state and date range. Perfect for pharma/food safety monitoring, compliance, competitive intelligence and research.

> Uses the official openFDA API — public U.S. FDA data, no key required.

***

### Datasets

- 💊 **Drug recalls** — enforcement reports (class, reason, firm, product).
- 🩺 **Device recalls** — medical-device enforcement reports.
- 🥫 **Food recalls** — food & cosmetic enforcement reports.
- ⚠️ **Drug adverse events** — FAERS reports (reactions, patient, drugs).
- 🏷️ **Drug labels** — indications, warnings, dosage, ingredients.

### Features

- ✅ **No API key** — official openFDA endpoints, works out of the box.
- ✅ **Recall filters** — classification (Class I/II/III), status, firm, state, date range.
- ✅ **Clean records** — ISO dates, flattened brand/generic/manufacturer names.
- ✅ **Advanced queries** — pass any openFDA field query (e.g. `reason_for_recall:"contamination"`).
- ✅ **Low-maintenance** — stable official API, one clean record per item.

***

### Input

| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| **Dataset** | drug / device / food recalls, adverse events, or labels. |
| **Search query** | Free text or an openFDA field query. |
| **Classification** | Recalls: Class I / II / III. |
| **Status** | Recalls: Ongoing / Completed / Terminated. |
| **State / Firm** | Recalls: filter by recalling firm's state or name. |
| **From / To date** | YYYY-MM-DD range on the dataset's main date field. |
| **API key** | Optional free key for a higher daily quota. |
| **Max results** | Result cap (openFDA caps deep paging at ~25,000). |

#### Example — ongoing Class I drug recalls, 2024

```json
{
  "dataset": "drug-recalls",
  "classification": "Class I",
  "status": "Ongoing",
  "dateFrom": "2024-01-01",
  "maxResults": 500
}
```

#### Example — recent adverse events for a drug

```json
{
  "dataset": "drug-adverse-events",
  "query": "patient.drug.medicinalproduct:\"OZEMPIC\"",
  "maxResults": 200
}
```

### Output

Recall row:

```json
{
  "type": "recall",
  "recall_number": "D-0123-2024",
  "status": "Ongoing",
  "classification": "Class I",
  "product_description": "...",
  "reason_for_recall": "Failed specifications",
  "recalling_firm": "Example Pharma Inc.",
  "state": "NJ",
  "recall_initiation_date": "2024-03-11",
  "brand_name": "...",
  "generic_name": "..."
}
```

Adverse-event rows carry `safetyreportid`, `serious`, `reactions`, `drugs`, patient sex/age; label rows carry `indications_and_usage`, `warnings`, `dosage_and_administration`, ingredients.

### Run it on a schedule

Schedule the Actor to watch for new recalls in your category and connect a **Google Sheets / Slack / webhook** integration for instant safety alerts.

### Notes & limitations

- Uses the official openFDA API — no key needed (optional key raises the daily quota).
- Data is a point-in-time snapshot at run time.
- Adverse-event reports are voluntary and not confirmed causation (FDA disclaimer).
- Public, non-personal U.S. FDA regulatory data.
- Data source: openFDA (U.S. Food & Drug Administration).

***

#### Keywords

openFDA, FDA, drug recall, food recall, device recall, FDA recalls, adverse events, FAERS, drug label, drug safety, pharmacovigilance, product recall, FDA enforcement, recall monitoring, pharma compliance, food safety, medical device, drug data, FDA API, regulatory data.

# Actor input Schema

## `dataset` (type: `string`):

Which FDA dataset to pull.

## `query` (type: `string`):

Free text, or an openFDA field query. Examples: "metformin"; reason\_for\_recall:"contamination"; patient.drug.medicinalproduct:"ASPIRIN".

## `classification` (type: `string`):

Class I (most serious), Class II, or Class III.

## `status` (type: `string`):

Ongoing, Completed, Terminated, or Pending.

## `state` (type: `string`):

Two-letter US state of the recalling firm, e.g. CA, NY, TX.

## `firm` (type: `string`):

Exact recalling firm / company name.

## `dateFrom` (type: `string`):

Only records on/after this date (YYYY-MM-DD). Applies to the dataset's main date field.

## `dateTo` (type: `string`):

Only records on/before this date (YYYY-MM-DD).

## `sort` (type: `string`):

openFDA sort expression, e.g. recall\_initiation\_date:desc. Defaults to newest first.

## `apiKey` (type: `string`):

Optional free key (open.fda.gov/apis/authentication) to raise the daily quota from 1,000 to 120,000 requests. Not required.

## `maxResults` (type: `integer`):

How many records to return (openFDA caps deep paging at ~25,000).

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "dataset": "drug-recalls",
  "classification": "",
  "status": "",
  "maxResults": 100
}
```

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("straightforward_hydra/openfda-scraper").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("straightforward_hydra/openfda-scraper").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"])
for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{}' |
apify call straightforward_hydra/openfda-scraper --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "mcp-remote",
                "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=straightforward_hydra/openfda-scraper",
                "--header",
                "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR_API_TOKEN>"
            ]
        }
    }
}

```

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/jRDK8nBVSHOgWmHmA/builds/b7Qb0GCrA41ypRb2S/openapi.json