Get Assistance from the FDA Human Food Program (HFP)
The Food and Cosmetic Center (FCIC) receives inquiries and complaints on FDA-regulated food, dietary supplement, or cosmetic products.
Frequently Requested Information
General Inquiries
Submit a Web Form 24/7
Call or Chat
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM ET
1-888-SAFEFOOD (1-888-723-3366)
Chat link in bottom-right corner
Closed Thursdays from 12:30pm to 1:30pm ET and Federal holidays.
Send Mail
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Human Foods Program
Food and Cosmetic Information Center
5001 Campus Drive, HFS-009
College Park, MD 20740-3835
Please do not mail products to this address.
Report a Complaint
A complaint may be about an adverse event such as illness, injury, allergic reaction, or other health-related issue or about defects in the quality or safety of an FDA-regulated food, dietary supplement, or cosmetic product. The FDA uses the Safety Reporting Portal to receive complaints on foods and dietary supplements.
To report a complaint related to an FDA-regulated food product or dietary supplement, you have the following choices:
- If you are a consumer or health professional who wants to voluntarily report, please visit the Safety Reporting Portal.
- If you are an industry member who needs to file a Mandatory Adverse Event Report about a dietary supplement, please visit the Safety Reporting Portal.
- If you wish to speak directly to a person about your complaint or adverse event, please call the Food and Cosmetic Information Center at 1-888-SAFEFOOD (1-888-723-3366) Monday - Friday 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM ET – Closed Thursdays from 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM ET and Federal holidays.
- If you are a member of the food industry who needs to submit a Reportable Food Registry report when there is a reasonable probability that an article of food will cause serious adverse health consequences or death to humans or animals, please visit the Reportable Food Registry page.
While most foodborne outbreaks are tracked through the FDA’s Coordinated Outbreak Response and Evaluation (CORE) network, seafood-related illnesses caused by natural toxins, and molluscan shellfish-related illnesses have separate reporting mechanisms.
To report an illness related to scombrotoxin fish poisoning and natural toxins from fish other than molluscan shellfish, refer to How to Report Seafood-Related Toxin and Scombrotoxin Fish Poisoning Illnesses for reporting instructions.
To report a complaint or adverse event (such as an illness, allergic reaction, rash, irritation, scarring, or hair loss) related to a cosmetic, you have the following choices:
- If you are a consumer or health professional, please complete and submit an electronic MedWatch Online Voluntary Reporting Form, or
- Complete a paper MedWatch Consumer Voluntary Reporting Form and mail or fax it to FDA.
Mail or fax the form to: MedWatch, Food and Drug Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852; FAX: 800-332-0178 (toll-free). - If you wish to speak directly to someone about your complaint or adverse event, call 1-888-723-3366 and press option “4” to speak to a customer service representative.
- If you are a member of industry, who needs to file a Mandatory Serious Adverse Event Report under section 605 of the FD&C Act, please refer to How to Report a Cosmetic Related Complaint.
For all questions or problems related to meat and poultry, please contact USDA.
Main Number: 1-833-ONE-USDA or 202-720-2791
USDA Meat & Poultry Hotline: 1-888-674-6854
Email the Meat and Poultry Hotline
To report a complaint about a restaurant, grocery store or other retail establishments, please contact the state and local regulatory agencies that regulate these businesses.
What Happens When a Problem is Reported?
Every report is important to FDA. In each case, the information the consumer furnishes is evaluated to determine how serious the problem is and what follow-up is needed. Learn more about the review process.
Frequently Requested Information
Food Safety Modernization Act Technical Assistance Network (FSMA TAN)
Alerts, Advisories & Safety Information
Recalls of Foods & Dietary Supplements
Contact Other FDA Centers and Offices
(Drugs, Tobacco, Devices, Biologics, and more)
Adverse Event Reporting System Database
(contains information on adverse event and product complaint reports submitted to FDA for foods, dietary supplements, and cosmetics)
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Food Business Requirements - Starting a Food Business
- How to Work with FDA on Food Guidance Documents
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Food Facility Registration
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Prior Notice
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Reportable Food Registry
- Reportable Food Registry for Industry
- Guidance for Industry: Questions and Answers Regarding the Reportable Food Registry as Established by the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007 is a guidance document concerning submitting reports of instances of reportable food through the electronic portal and providing notifications to other persons in the supply chain of such articles of food.
- Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022
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Bad Bug Book - Foodborne Pathogenic Microorganisms and Natural Toxins Handbook
- The Nutrition Facts Label
- Recalls, Market Withdrawals, and Safety Alerts
- Food Facts for Consumers - Factsheets on key topics
- Education Resource Library - Printable educational materials and videos on topics related to food safety, nutrition (including labeling and dietary supplements) and cosmetics.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Contact CDC to ask questions about public health.
Telephone: 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636)
E-Mail: Contact CDC-INFO
Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Consumer & Food Safety Educators
Contact USDA to ask questions concerning meat and poultry and egg products.
Main Number: 1-833-ONE-USDA or 202-720-2791
USDA Meat & Poultry Hotline: 1-888-674-6854
Email the Meat and Poultry Hotline
Business & Industry Information
USDA Food Safety & Inspection Service (FSIS)
FSIS regulates domesticated meat, poultry and egg products.
Department of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Seafood Inspection Program
Telephone: 1-800-422-2750 or 301-427-8300
E-Mail: NOAA Seafood Inspection Program
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
Contact CPSC for answers to questions regarding consumer products.
Consumer Hotline: 1-800-638-2772
General Information: 301-504-7923
TTY: 1-800-638-8270, 301-595-7054
E-Mail: CPSC Information Center
Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Contact DHS to ask questions or to report incidents.
Telephone: 1-877-227-5511 or 202-325-8000
TTY: 1-866-880-6582
E-Mail: CBP INFO Center
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC)
Contact NPIC to ask questions regarding pesticides and pesticide-related topics.
Telephone: 1-800-858-7378 or 541-737-6091
E-Mail: Contact NPIC
Safe Drinking Water Hotline
Contact the Safe Drinking Water Hotline to ask questions regarding drinking water and groundwater programs.
Telephone: 1-800-426-4791
Help is available in English and Spanish.
E-Mail: Ticket System
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Consumer Response Center
Contact FTC to ask questions regarding fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace.
Telephone: 1-877-382-4357
TTY: 1-866-653-4261
E-Mail: FTC Complaint Assistant
Department of the Interior
Fish and Wildlife Service
Answers questions on conservation, protection, and enhancement of fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats.
Telephone: 1-800-344-WILD (1-800-344-9453)
E-Mail: Office of External Affairs
Department of the Treasury
Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau
Contact TTB to ask questions regarding alcoholic beverage products in the marketplace. Handles consumer complaints about misleading advertising of alcoholic beverages.
Telephone: 202-453-2000
Telephone for the hearing impaired: 202-882-9914