Food and Drug Administration

The Food and Drug Administration protects public health by ensuring the safety and effectiveness of foods, drugs, medical devices, and other products Americans use daily.

Food Safety and Recalls

The FDA works to prevent the 48 million foodborne illnesses that occur annually through food facility inspections. Learn what to do when food gets recalled and how to report food problems to protect yourself and others. Understanding nutrition labels helps you make healthier choices.

Drugs and Medical Devices

Discover how the FDA approves drugs and why generic drugs make up 90% of prescriptions. Learn about dietary supplement regulations, which don’t require pre-market approval. If you experience problems, know how to report drug and medical device issues and understand what to do during medicine recalls or medical device recalls.

Safety Monitoring and Enforcement

The FDA monitors product safety through warning letters and safety alerts and tracks vaccine safety through VAERS. During emergencies, the FDA can issue Emergency Use Authorizations for critical medical products.

Other Regulated Products

The FDA also oversees cosmetics regulation, tobacco control, animal drugs and food safety, and even blood donation standards.