Food and Drug Administration facts for kids

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is a special agency in the United States government. Its main job is to keep people healthy and safe. It does this by making sure our food, medicines, and other products are good for us.

The FDA checks things like:

• The food we eat, to make sure it's safe and clean.
• Medicines, both those you need a doctor's note for (prescription) and those you can buy easily (over-the-counter). They make sure these medicines work and are safe.
• Vaccines, which help protect us from diseases.
• Tobacco products.
• Cosmetics, like makeup and lotions.

The FDA works with other groups, like the DEA, to make sure rules are followed. This agency started in 1906 and is led by someone called the Commissioner of Food and Drugs.

The FDA logo

What Does the FDA Do?

The FDA has a very important job: protecting your health! Think of them as a watchdog for many things you use every day. They make sure that products are safe and that companies tell the truth about what's in them.

Keeping Food Safe

One of the FDA's biggest jobs is making sure the food you eat is safe. They check everything from fresh fruits and vegetables to packaged snacks. They work to prevent food poisoning and make sure food is made in clean places.

Food Labels and Information

The FDA also helps make sure that food labels are clear and honest. This means you can trust the information about ingredients, nutrition, and how much is in a package. They help you make smart choices about what you eat.

Checking Medicines and Vaccines

Before a new medicine or vaccine can be sold in the U.S., the FDA must approve it. This is a very careful process. Scientists at the FDA study the medicine to make sure it works well and is safe for people to use.

How Medicines Are Approved

When a company creates a new medicine, they have to do many tests. They send all their research and test results to the FDA. The FDA then reviews all this information very carefully. If the medicine passes all the safety and effectiveness checks, then the FDA says it's okay to be used.

Other Products the FDA Regulates

The FDA also looks after other important products. They check cosmetics, like makeup and lotions, to make sure they are safe for your skin. They also regulate tobacco products, working to protect public health from their harmful effects.

History of the FDA

The FDA was created a long time ago, in 1906. Back then, there weren't many rules about food and medicine. People sometimes got sick from unsafe products.

Why the FDA Was Started

People realized that a government agency was needed to protect citizens. The Food and Drug Act of 1906 was passed to make sure food and drugs were pure and honest. This law was a big step towards keeping people healthy and safe from harmful products.

Important People in FDA History

One important person who helped start the FDA was Dr. Harvey W. Wiley. He worked hard to show why new laws were needed to make food and medicine safer for everyone. He is often called the "Father of the Pure Food and Drugs Act."

Images for kids

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  FDA Building 66 houses the Center for Devices and Radiological Health.

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  The Arkansas Laboratory in Jefferson, Arkansas is the headquarters of the National Center for Toxicological Research

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  FDA scientist prepares blood donation samples for testing

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  FDA Building 62 houses the Center for Devices and Radiological Health.

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  FDA lab at Building 64 in Silver Spring, Maryland

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  Harvey W. Wiley, chief advocate of the Food and Drug Act