FDA Consumer Health Information Updates

To help consumers build nutritious diets, the FDA updated the nutritional requirements a food must meet to use the claim "healthy" on the package.

More people are getting tattoos and permanent makeup, and some have developed infections from contaminated inks, or had bad reactions to the inks. Get the facts before making a permanent decision.

There isn’t sufficient evidence to show that OTC antibacterial soaps are better at preventing illness than washing with plain soap and water. Washing your hands is easy, and it’s one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs.

Antibiotics are powerful medications that save countless lives every day. But they’re not the answer for every illness. Antibiotics treat only some infections caused by bacteria – and none caused by viruses. Learn to safely use antibiotics to get well and combat antimicrobial resistance.

Patients today have several treatment options to prevent hospitalization and other serious complications of COVID-19. The FDA has approved drug treatments for COVID-19 and has authorized others for emergency use.

From blood to vaccines, FDA protects and advances the public health by ensuring that biological products are safe, effective, and available to those who need them. Read these Consumer Updates to learn more.

Dietary supplements are regulated by the FDA as food, not as drugs. However, many dietary supplements contain ingredients that have strong biological effects which may conflict with a medicine you are taking or a medical condition you may have. Products containing hidden drugs are also sometimes fal

Kids aren't just small adults. From diet and nutrition to their reactions to medicine, their bodies are unique. Read these Consumer Updates to learn more.

Consumer articles about over-the-counter and prescription drugs.

Timely articles and multimedia content about food and food-safety.

A look at what makes your milk and dairy safe, and the 100-year history behind it.

Although most colds in children don’t cause serious complications, they can cause stress and worry in parents and caregivers. Most children will get better on their own, and cough or cold medicine will not change the natural course of a cold or make it go away faster.

The flu vaccine you get is the year-round work of highly skilled microbiologists, epidemiologists, physicians and other public health experts. Sound complicated? It is. The FDA and HHS are working on developing new and better technologies for producing flu vaccines.

Tobacco comes in many forms, from cigars and cigarettes to smokeless tobacco and dissolvable nicotine products. FDA works to reduce the use of these products, and the harm that they cause. To learn more read these Consumer Updates.

The Nutrition Facts Label on food packaging is an important and easy way to get essential information to help you make healthy food choices. These FDA Consumer Updates are also a great resource for more nutrition facts, and other helpful information about the food you eat.

Consumer articles about medical devices.

Consumer articles from FDA about animal health and veterinary medicine.

Many teens underestimate how easy it is to become addicted to nicotine. This raises concerns because young people are at greatest risk of nicotine addiction because their brains are still developing. Find out how you can help.

Getting vaccinated in the fall can lower your chances of getting the flu. Haven’t had your flu shot yet? It’s not too late. Every flu season is different. Your best defense against the flu is to get a vaccine every year.

When not used properly, devices that circulate water to provide hot or cold therapy can pose a risk of injury, especially cold-induced injuries.