The FDA safety data terminal. Every drug adverse event, device recall, food contamination, and product label the FDA publishes — synced locally, searchable offline, with trend analysis no other tool offers.
Created by @H179922 (H179922).
Quick Start
1. Install
See Install above.
2. Set Up Credentials
Get your API key from your API provider's developer portal. The key typically looks like a long alphanumeric string.
export FDA_API_KEY="<paste-your-key>"
You can also persist this in your config file at ~/.config/openfda-pp-cli/config.json.
3. Verify Setup
openfda-pp-cli doctor
This checks your configuration and credentials.
4. Try Your First Command
openfda-pp-cli animal-events
Usage
Run openfda-pp-cli --help for the full command reference and flag list.
Commands
animal-events
Animal drug and device adverse event reports.
openfda-pp-cli animal-events list - Search animal adverse event reports
device-510k
Premarket notification submissions demonstrating substantial equivalence.
openfda-pp-cli device-510k list - Search 510(k) clearance records
device-classification
Medical device product codes, specialty areas, and regulatory class.
openfda-pp-cli device-classification list - Search device classifications
device-covid19
COVID-19 serological testing evaluation data.
openfda-pp-cli device-covid19 list - Search COVID-19 serology test evaluations
device-events
Medical device adverse event reports (MAUDE/MDR) — injuries, deaths, malfunctions.
openfda-pp-cli device-events count - Count device events by fieldopenfda-pp-cli device-events list - Search device adverse event reports
device-pma
Class III medical device premarket approval decisions.
openfda-pp-cli device-pma list - Search premarket approval records
device-recall-detail
Detailed device recall actions addressing defects or health risks.
openfda-pp-cli device-recall-detail list - Search device recall action details
device-recalls
Medical device recall enforcement reports.
openfda-pp-cli device-recalls list - Search device recall enforcement reports
device-registration
Medical device manufacturing establishment registrations and product listings.
openfda-pp-cli device-registration list - Search device registrations and listings
device-udi
Global Unique Device Identification Database (GUDID).
openfda-pp-cli device-udi list - Search unique device identifiers
drug-approvals
FDA-approved drug products since 1939 — applications, submissions, and marketing status.
openfda-pp-cli drug-approvals list - Search approved drug products
drug-events
Reports of drug side effects, medication errors, product quality problems (FAERS). 4.9M+ reports since 2003.
openfda-pp-cli drug-events count - Count adverse events by fieldopenfda-pp-cli drug-events list - Search drug adverse event reports
drug-labels
Structured product information including prescribing info, black box warnings, indications.
openfda-pp-cli drug-labels list - Search drug product labels
drug-ndc
National Drug Code directory — product identifiers, packaging, and classification.
openfda-pp-cli drug-ndc list - Search NDC directory
drug-recalls
Drug product recall enforcement reports.
openfda-pp-cli drug-recalls count - Count drug recalls by fieldopenfda-pp-cli drug-recalls list - Search drug recall enforcement reports
drug-shortages
Current and historical drug shortages from manufacturing issues, delays, and discontinuations.
openfda-pp-cli drug-shortages list - Search drug shortages
food-events
CAERS reports — food, dietary supplement, and cosmetic adverse events.
openfda-pp-cli food-events list - Search food/supplement adverse event reports
food-recalls
Food product recall enforcement reports.
openfda-pp-cli food-recalls count - Count food recalls by fieldopenfda-pp-cli food-recalls list - Search food recall enforcement reports
nsde
Non-Standardized Drug Entities — drug names that don't map to standard terminology.
openfda-pp-cli nsde list - Search non-standardized drug entities
substance
Substance data from the FDA substance registration system.
openfda-pp-cli substance list - Search substance records
tobacco-problems
Tobacco product problem reports.
openfda-pp-cli tobacco-problems list - Search tobacco problem reports
Output Formats
# Human-readable table (default in terminal, JSON when piped)
openfda-pp-cli animal-events
# JSON for scripting and agents
openfda-pp-cli animal-events --json
# Filter to specific fields
openfda-pp-cli animal-events --json --select id,name,status
# Dry run — show the request without sending
openfda-pp-cli animal-events --dry-run
# Agent mode — JSON + compact + no prompts in one flag
openfda-pp-cli animal-events --agent
Agent Usage
This CLI is designed for AI agent consumption:
- Non-interactive - never prompts, every input is a flag
- Pipeable -
--json output to stdout, errors to stderr
- Filterable -
--select id,name returns only fields you need
- Previewable -
--dry-run shows the request without sending
- Read-only by default - this CLI does not create, update, delete, publish, send, or mutate remote resources
- Offline-friendly - sync/search commands can use the local SQLite store when available
- Agent-safe by default - no colors or formatting unless
--human-friendly is set
Exit codes: 0 success, 2 usage error, 3 not found, 4 auth error, 5 API error, 7 rate limited, 10 config error.
Health Check
openfda-pp-cli doctor
Verifies configuration, credentials, and connectivity to the API.
Configuration
Config file: ~/.config/openfda-pp-cli/config.json
Static request headers can be configured under headers; per-command header overrides take precedence.
Environment variables:
| Name | Kind | Required | Description |
|---|
FDA_API_KEY | per_call | Yes | Set to your API credential. |
Troubleshooting
Authentication errors (exit code 4)
- Run
openfda-pp-cli doctor to check credentials
- Verify the environment variable is set:
echo $FDA_API_KEY
Not found errors (exit code 3)
- Check the resource ID is correct
- Run the
list command to see available items
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