OII Feature Stories
To illustrate the unique value of OII's regulatory investments we have developed a series of feature stories that describe recent advances by our colleagues and their impacts on public health.
Holiday Wishlist or Watchlist? Know What is Naughty or Nice with FDA Import Operations
By: Christian B. Martinez
That overseas beauty deal or supplement bargain might seem too good to be true—and it often is. As holiday imports surge by nearly 30%, FDA inspectors race to identify dangerous products hidden among millions of legitimate packages. Find out how to shop safely this season and what FDA's Import Operations team does to keep harmful products from reaching your family and friends.
How FDA Investigators Pinpointed Cause of Illness Tied to Nutrition Shakes at Long-Term Care Facilities
Bound by scientific integrity and transparency, the FDA is tasked with gathering clear evidence (for instance, a sample taken from a food production line that test positive for E. coli) to determine if the facility could be the source of contamination and then what action it should take to protect the public.
With Broad Appeal, FDA’s Workshop on Reducing Animal Testing Hears from Experts on More Humane and Human-Relevant Testing Methods
By: Erin Peabody
Scientists and regulators unite to advance testing methods that are both more humane and more scientifically accurate—discover the innovative alternatives reshaping drug safety research.
Independent Panel Evaluates Safety of Talc in Everyday Products to Protect Public Health
By: Monique Richards
On May 20, 2025, an independent panel of scientific experts from around the world convened to assess the safety and necessity of talc, a naturally occurring mineral that can be found in food, drug, and cosmetic products. Talc is known to be used in human foods, like chewing gum and candies, as well as cosmetics and medications.
Division of Targeting and Analysis Embraces Greater Challenges, Stronger Collaborations
By: Christian B. Martinez
While millions of Americans drift off to sleep each night, the never-ending deluge of trillions of dollars in foreign-sourced products continues to surge toward our shores and proceed through our points of entry. The need for safe, essential goods, such as vegetables, fruit juice, coffee, and myriad other goods, does not stop for any time or day; rather, it is a critical requirement that demands 24/7 monitoring and risk analysis.
FDA Agents Bust Man Selling Illegal and Unsafe Bodybuilding Drugs
By Rachael Burden
FDA’s special agent undercover work recently led to convicting an individual who sold unapproved drugs to individuals in the bodybuilding and fitness community.
How FDA Investigators Uncovered Source of Salmonella Tied to Illness-Causing Eggs
By Erin Peabody
Learn how OII investigators acted quickly to conduct critical inspections and sample collections at several Midwestern poultry houses. Their on-site assessments helped confirm the source of the Salmonella outbreak, helping lead to the removal of tens of thousands of contaminated eggs from grocery store shelves.
FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Agents Catch Doctor Who Poisoned Patients with Tainted IV Bags
By: Rachael Burden, Public Affairs Specialist, Office of Inspections & Investigations
When medical professionals exploit their positions of trust to deliberately harm patients, the consequences can be devastating—and justice must be swift and decisive. Thanks to the rapid response and meticulous investigation by the FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations, Ortiz was convicted and sentenced to 190 years in federal prison.
Office of Inspections and Investigations (OII) Consumer Safety Officers Stop Dangerous Products from Reaching Our Youth
By: Kim Prenter
Keeping illicit and harmful e-cigarette products out of the hands of our young people is a top priority for FDA's Office of Inspections and Investigations.
FDA Investigator Travels Globe to Help Ensure Safety of America’s Medicines
By: Erin Peabody
When we pick up a prescription at our local drugstore, we’re often asked by the pharmacist if we have any questions. Fortunately for Americans, FDA consumer safety officers like Rajiv Srivastava have devoted their careers to scrutinizing the safety of pharmaceutical drugs bound for the U.S. market—and travelling halfway around the world to do so.
Safeguarding Communities and National Drug Stockpiles
By: Monique Richards
ORA’s New York Medical Products Laboratory is safeguarding the health and well-being of communities by analyzing medical products for suspected health fraud and testing products for potential issues. The office also ensures that critical drugs in the National Strategic Stockpile are safe and ready by recommending extending the expiry date of drugs tested by the FDA
The Hunt for a Blinding Bacterium
By: Erin Peabody
These super strains of bacteria, viruses, and fungi can cause devastating infections, known for their genetic ability to turn on a dime, so to speak, picking up new defenses and resistances that can render even the most potent antibiotics and other drugs useless.
Patient Advocacy Lies at Heart of FDA Agent’s Theranos Case
By: Pat El-Hinnawy and Erin Peabody
As patients seek legal recourse for harms they suffered at the hands of fraudulent start-up Theranos, there’s one FDA criminal investigator who understands their pain—perhaps better than anyone.
ORA's Detroit Laboratory and University of Michigan Students Connect for Lab Tour
By Dawn Pyant
“Science is the universal language,” said Jeanpaul Mivoyel, Acting Director of ORA's Detroit Medical Products Laboratory (DETLMP), a remark that spoke volumes to a visiting group of students from the University of Michigan (U-M), there to participate in a presentation and tour of the laboratory.
Of Bacteria and Bad Actors
FDA scientists, like Diane Biron, must battle both to ensure the safety of America’s medical devices.
FDA lead laboratory for medical device and radioanalytical testing
The Winchester Engineering and Analytical Center (WEAC) is the only FDA facility that performs analyses of medical devices, such as CT scanners, pacemakers, and defibrillators. Learn more about the WEAC facility by reviewing the https://youtu.be/TOCop47Dwew and the WEAC web page.
New Digitized “Cloud” Helps FDA Scientists Share Findings Almost Instantly, Advancing Consumer Protections and Food Safety
An in depth look at an award winning tool at work in ORA laboratories.
Public Outreach Remains Powerful Agency Tool
For more than 70 years, FDA's public health educators work to protect Americans from false and misleading information.
New York State Formalizes Food Safety Efforts with the FDA
The agency signs a domestic mutual reliance partnership agreement with the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets.
All Hands on Safety
The agency’s tireless and, at times, technical battle during the pandemic to protect Americans from unsafe hand sanitizers
Scrutiny and Safety at Toyosu Market
ORA investigator Derek Dealy shares how his discovery at the famous Japanese market protected public health and, personally, affirmed his choice of career.