Mesalamine

Mesalamine recalls: 5 FDA reports

Recalls involving Mesalamine. What was wrong with each batch, and how the FDA graded the risk.

5Reports
0Class I
1Ongoing
2024-03-06Most recent

What the classes mean

The FDA sorts every recall into one of three classes. The class is the whole story. It is also the part people skip.

ClassWhat the FDA is saying
Class IThere is a reasonable probability that using this will cause serious harm or death.
Class IIIt may cause temporary or reversible harm. Serious harm is unlikely.
Class IIIIt breaks a rule but is unlikely to hurt anyone. Often a labelling fault.

Class II is the bulk of every list here. That matters. A long list of Class II says something different from one Class I.

By class

ClassReports
Class II4
Class III1

By year reported

YearReports
20171
20202
20242
Checking whether it affects you

The lot or code number is what matters. Not the product name. A recall covers specific lots. Yours may not be one of them.

Check the code on your package against the report. The FDA keeps the current list at fda.gov/safety/recalls.

The reports

The text below is quoted from the FDA record word for word.

Mesalamine Extended-Release Capsules, USP 500mg, Rx Only, 120 Capsules per bottle, Manufactured by: Sun Pharma

D-0350-2024  ·  Class II  ·  reported 2024-03-06  ·  Ongoing

Why it was recalled
Failed Dissolution Specifications: Out of specification for dissolution.
Product
Mesalamine Extended-Release Capsules, USP 500mg, Rx Only, 120 Capsules per bottle, Manufactured by: Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, Mohali, INDIA, Distributed by: Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc., Cranbury, NJ 08512, NDC 63304-089-13.
Where it went
Nationwide in the U.S.
How much
54,960 bottles

Mesalamine Delayed-Release Tablets, USP 1.2 g per tablet, Rx Only, 120 Tablets per bottle, Once Daily, Distrib

D-0268-2024  ·  Class II  ·  reported 2024-01-31  ·  Completed

Why it was recalled
CGMP Deviations: Microbial contamination was reported in stagnant water in the duct of the manufacturing equipment.
Product
Mesalamine Delayed-Release Tablets, USP 1.2 g per tablet, Rx Only, 120 Tablets per bottle, Once Daily, Distributed by: Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc., Cranbury, NJ 08512, Manufactured by: Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited Survey No. 259/15, Dadra-396 191 (U.T. of D & NH), INDIA, NDC 63304-175-13.
Where it went
Nationwide in the USA
How much
10,690 bottles

Mesalamine Delayed-Release Tablets, USP 1.2 gram, 120 tablets per bottle, Rx Only, Manufactured by: Actavis La

D-0069-2021  ·  Class II  ·  reported 2020-11-18  ·  Terminated

Why it was recalled
Failed Dissolution Specifications: Out-of-specification dissolution results were obtained during stability testing.
Product
Mesalamine Delayed-Release Tablets, USP 1.2 gram, 120 tablets per bottle, Rx Only, Manufactured by: Actavis Laboratories, FL, Inc., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, Distributed by: Actavis Pharma Inc., Parsippany, NJ 07054, NDC 0591-2245-22.
Where it went
Nationwide in the U.S. and PR
How much
133,829 bottles

Mesalamine Delayed-Release Tablets, USP, 1.2 gram, 120-count bottle, Rx Only, Manufactured by: Actavis Laborat

D-0862-2020  ·  Class II  ·  reported 2020-03-11  ·  Terminated

Why it was recalled
Failed Dissolution Specifications: Low out of specification dissolution result observed during stability testing.
Product
Mesalamine Delayed-Release Tablets, USP, 1.2 gram, 120-count bottle, Rx Only, Manufactured by: Actavis Laboratories FL, Inc., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314; Distributed by: Actavis Pharma, Inc., Parsippany, NJ 07054; NDC 0591-2245-22.
Where it went
Nationwide in the USA.
How much
3,695 bottles

Pentasa (mesalamine) Controlled-Release Capsules, 250 mg, 240 count bottle, Rx only, Manufactured for Shire US

D-0432-2017  ·  Class III  ·  reported 2017-01-25  ·  Terminated

Why it was recalled
Presence of Foreign Tablets/Capsules; 500 mg capsules were found in bottles labeled to contain 250 mg capsules
Product
Pentasa (mesalamine) Controlled-Release Capsules, 250 mg, 240 count bottle, Rx only, Manufactured for Shire US Inc., Lexington, MA --- NDC 54092-189-81
Where it went
Nationwide and Puerto Rico
How much
4,520 bottles
Read these counts with three things in mind

A firm with more recalls usually makes more products. A contract packer runs hundreds of lines. It will out-recall a company with one product whatever either does. This is not a safety ranking.

Most recalls here are voluntary. A firm found its own fault and pulled the stock. That is the system working. It lands in this database looking the same as a recall the FDA had to push for.

Terminated means the FDA considers the recall finished. It is not a verdict. It does not mean anyone was harmed.

Source: openFDA enforcement reports, retrieved 2026-08-05. FDA dataset last updated 2026-07-29.

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