WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is celebrating a historic milestone in 2026, marking 120 years of national service with the debut of its first-ever official agency seal.
Unveiled by FDA Commissioner Dr. Martin A. Makary, the seal is designed to symbolize the agency’s evolution from the 1906 Pure Food and Drugs Act to its modern role as a global leader in science and consumer protection.
The new seal incorporates traditional medical imagery alongside symbols of modern innovation. According to the agency, each element was chosen to reflect the diverse disciplines of its workforce—from researchers and physicians to field inspectors.
Key elements of the seal include:
- The Border: Composed of 120 golden triangles, representing each year of the agency’s service since its founding.
- The Eagle: Featuring widely expanded wings to signify the FDA’s “sweeping mission” to protect the nation’s health.
- The Staff of Aesculapius: A snake-entwined staff representing medicine, topped with a globe to denote the FDA’s international reach.
- The DNA Double-Helix: Positioned to the left of the shield, symbolizing a commitment to gold-standard science and medical technology.
- The Shield & Badge: Representing civil and criminal enforcement of safety laws.
- Eight Stars: Each star represents a specific oversight area: food, drugs, medical devices, radiation-emitting products, vaccines/biologics, animal/veterinary, cosmetics, and tobacco.
In a statement accompanying the reveal, Dr. Makary reflected on the agency’s origins, noting that before the landmark 1906 law, Americans faced significant risks from unregulated goods—including infant teething syrups that contained morphine and alcohol.
“Our mission is captured in the Latin phrase on the seal: Ad Salutem Publican Tuendam—’Protecting the Public Health,'” said Dr. Makary. “We are committed, for the next 120 years and beyond, to diminishing disease and making Americans healthier.”
The anniversary comes during a transformative year for the agency. Under the “Make America Healthy Again” agenda, the FDA has prioritized:
- Food Chemical Safety: Systematic reviews of additives like phthalates and BHA.
- Nutrition Transparency: Advancing front-of-package labeling and modernizing infant formula standards.
- Supply Chain Resilience: Launching the “PreCheck Pilot Program” to bolster domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing.
The FDA remains the oldest comprehensive consumer protection agency in the U.S. federal government, currently overseeing approximately one-fifth of the American economy.
