Using the FDA website is an extremely good idea, but many people don't think of it. They don't realize that the site with the FDA logo has a lot of information to offer.

If you want to know if food or medication has been recalled because of problems, this is the place to go.

You can also find out about rules and laws, how to be a smart consumer, and get advice from the FDA,

just by going to their site. Here's a look at the FDA website and some of the information we can all learning by visiting it.


Looking For FDA Drug Recall Information ?

If you've got access to the Internet and are worried about a food or drug recall, the FDA's site is the place to go.

Just open up your favorite browser and head to www.fda.gov. The front page offers sections about food, drugs, medical devices, vaccines, cosmetics, tobacco and even pet foods. Just click on the area you're interested in.

Or check out the news and events and public health focus sections of the website. They're both helpful for telling us what's happening now. Important information about labeling, recalls, and other situations is often listed here.

If you wanted to find out about drug recalls, you'd just click on “drugs.” On the right hand side of the page are sections marked Spotlight, Recalls & Alerts and Approvals & Clearances. They'll tell you :

• The most current and important information
• What drugs have been recalled recently
• What drugs have been approved.

The website is easy to move through and offers clear, easy to read information. You'll be surprised at what you can find on the FDA site. Just take the time to look around and explore. Don't be intimidated because it's a government agency. They've made an effort to make sure everything is easy to find.


More Than Just Recalls

Of course, there's more to the FDA's web presence than recall information. You can also find out :

• How to get rid of unused or expired medication
• How to avoid the flu
• What drugs are in short supply
• And how to stay safe when it comes to food preparation.

Following the FDA's instructions next time you prepare a big holiday dinner will help you make sure things are safe. You and your family will be able to stay healthy, and your holiday celebration will go off without a problem.

You can also find out how to deal with emergencies. The FDA has advice about what to do if there's a natural disaster that could stop you from getting your medications. The website can also tell you how to keep food fresh and safe if there's a flood, blizzard, earthquake or other disaster. This information might not seem like it's important right away, but you could need it later. After all, no one knows when a natural disaster is likely to happen.


Education And The FDA

The FDA's webpages can also be a helpful place to learn. Students, medical patients, and people who are just curious can find out :

• How a drug goes through the approval process & gets on the market
• What kind of labels have to be on food and how to read them
• Learn how food and drug labs work.

There's a lot of different information available from the FDA and now it's easier than ever to get it. The Internet has made a big difference for everyone.

We used to have to call the FDA hotline or look up paper books and magazines to find these things out. Now, all you have to do is type an address into your browser bar. There's more information than ever at our fingertips.

It lets us protect ourselves from disasters, mistakes at home, food and drug company errors, and all kinds of other problems. No one wants to deal with getting sick from bad food or medicine, after all. The FDA's webpages can help us keep ourselves and our families safe.