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# FDA Reflection This Thanksgiving: Alliance
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/fda-reflection-this-thanksgiving-alliance/
- Published: 2019-11-26T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-14T15:54:25.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: FDA Policy/General, #legacy-id-D5145594

The Alliance for a Stronger FDA says consideration should be given to FDA staff as we sit down for Thanksgiving dinner this week. “ Consider adding thanks to FDA and its devoted staff, including the inspectors who never get sufficient credit for the difficulty and potential danger in their jobs,” the group says in a [recent post](https://strengthenfda.org/2019/11/22/time-to-talk-turkey-once-again/?ref=fdaweb.com). “Altogether, the agency has more than 17,000 hard-working and dedicated employees, each playing an important role in assuring safe foods and safe and effective medical products. Yet, we are insufficiently thankful for the public benefits derived from an effective FDA.”

The Alliance wants to remind all of us that FDA regulates much of what is around us on Thanksgiving. “Sharing the Thanksgiving table are our family and friends, many of whom can lead productive and caring lives because FDA-approved medical products play a role in extending their healthy lives,” the post continues. “There are yet other parts of FDA’s activities for which we should be thankful. For example, in every household, there are [cosmetics](https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics?ref=fdaweb.com) and personal care products, which need to be safe for everyday use. Also, [67% of American households](https://www.statista.com/statistics/198086/us-household-penetration-rates-for-pet-owning-since-2007/?ref=fdaweb.com) have pets, whose food and medicines are primarily [FDA’s responsibility](https://www.petcoach.co/article/government-regulation-of-the-pet-food-industry/?ref=fdaweb.com). Less well-known, FDA sets standards for radiation emissions from [electronic products](https://www.fda.gov/radiation-emitting-products/electronic-product-radiation-control-program?ref=fdaweb.com). In addition to diagnostic imaging machines and therapeutic lasers, this also covers cell phones, microwave ovens, computer monitors, televisions, and the screening machines used by Homeland Security at airports.”

Overall, the Alliance reminds us, the agency regulates products that represent about 20% of consumer spending in the U.S. and “because of FDA we can rely on those products to perform satisfactorily for their intended use. That gives us much to be thankful for.”