August 6, 2026

Dear Colleague,

Welcome to the Special Summer Edition of the FDA Weekly Newsletter!  Get ready to dive into this special edition, packed with topics to make the most of the season.  The FDA works to safeguard the public against potential health risks, ensures the safety and efficacy of medical products, and the safety of our nation’s food supply and cosmetics.  Your partnership, knowledge and engagement in the public health space are appreciated.  Enjoy!

Sincerely,

The Public Engagement Staff
Public Engagement Staff | FDA

Tips to Stay Safe in the Sun: From Sunscreen to Sunglasses

Sun safety is always in season.  It’s important to protect your skin from sun damage throughout the year, no matter the weather.  Why?  Exposing your skin to the sun year-round means you are exposing it to ultraviolet radiation, which can cause sunburn, skin aging (such as skin spots, wrinkles, or “leathery skin”), eye damage, and skin cancer, the most common form of cancer in the U.S.

FDA 101: Product Recalls

A recall is an action taken by a company to correct or remove from the market an FDA regulated product that violates U.S. laws and regulations.  Recalls may be initiated voluntarily by a company, or at the request of the FDA.  Recalls are important because they protect the public from products that may cause injury, illness, or even death.

Cyclospora and Your Food: What You Should Know

Cyclospora is a parasite that is so small it can only be seen under a microscope.  When people eat food or drink water that’s contaminated with Cyclospora, they can get an intestinal illness called cyclosporiasis.  To date, Cyclospora is believed to only infect humans and spread through human fecal matter.

7 Tips for Cleaning Fruits, Vegetables

Federal health officials estimate that nearly 48 million people are sickened by food contaminated with harmful germs each year, and some of the causes might surprise you.  Although most people know animal products must be handled carefully to prevent illness, produce, too, can be the culprit in outbreaks of foodborne illness.  In recent years, the United States has had several large outbreaks of illness caused by contaminated fruits and vegetables—including spinach, cantaloupe, tomatoes, and lettuce.

Hurricane Season: Be Prepared

When gale-force winds start blowing and torrential rains raise water levels, you need to be ready.  Power outages mean refrigerated food and medicine supplies may spoil.  Floods may contaminate tap water and emergency supplies not stored properly with sewage, chemicals, heavy metals, pathogenic microorganisms, or other contaminants.  If the storm or flood is severe enough, you may need to evacuate with little time to prepare.  Don’t put off being prepared until the emergency hits.

Food Allergies

Food allergies and other types of food hypersensitivities affect millions of Americans and their families.  Food allergies occur when the body's immune system reacts to certain proteins in food.  Food allergic reactions vary in severity from mild symptoms involving hives and lip swelling to severe, life-threatening symptoms, often called anaphylaxis, that may involve fatal respiratory problems and shock.  While promising prevention and therapeutic strategies are being developed, food allergies currently cannot be cured.  Early recognition and learning how to manage food allergies, including which foods to avoid, are important measures to prevent serious health consequences.

Webinars and Virtual Workshops

Public meetings involving the FDA: Upcoming events, past meetings, meeting materials, and transcripts

About Us

The Public Engagement Staff resides within the Office of the Commissioner and falls under the Office of External Affairs.  We aim to build stronger relationships with health professional organizations, patients and patient advocacy organizations, consumer groups, trade associations, think tanks and academia, and other interested parties, in order to better inform our policy making process, identify policy hurdles or misconceptions, and create strategic collaborations.  For more information, please contact us at: PublicEngagement@fda.hhs.gov.  For patient specific inquiries, please contact us at: Patients Ask FDA.