# Openfda Database

Query, search, and download data from the openFDA API for drugs, devices, foods...

- Repository: https://github.com/google-deepmind/science-skills (3377 stars)
- Category: Engineering
- License: Apache-2.0
- Last updated: 2026-10-23
- Runs scripts: yes, review before use

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add google-deepmind/science-skills --skill openfda-database -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add google-deepmind/science-skills --skill openfda-database -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add google-deepmind/science-skills --skill openfda-database -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add google-deepmind/science-skills --skill openfda-database -g -a gemini-cli -y`

## Description

Query, search, and download data from the openFDA API for drugs, devices, foods, tobacco, cosmetics, animal and veterinary products, substances, and transparency data. Use for FDA adverse events, recalls, labeling, approvals, shortages, 510(k) clearances, NDC lookups, and any FDA safety or regulatory data query across all 28 API endpoints.

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

# openFDA Search and Query

## Prerequisites

1.  **`uv`**: Read the `uv` skill and follow its Setup instructions to ensure
    `uv` is installed and on PATH.
2.  **User Notification**: If .licenses/openfda_database_LICENSE.txt does not
    already exist in the workspace root directory then (1) prominently notify
    the user to check the terms at https://open.fda.gov/apis/ and
    https://open.fda.gov/license, then (2) create the file recording the
    notification text and timestamp.
3.  **`.env` file**: Make sure the `.env` file exists in your home directory.
    Create one if it does not exist.
4.  **`FDA_API_KEY`** (optional but recommended): Raises the daily request limit
    from 1,000 to 120,000. The skill works without it, but an agent can easily
    exhaust the keyless limit in a single session. You can register for a free
    key at https://open.fda.gov/apis/authentication/. You **MUST** use the safe
    credentials protocol in the `credentials` skill to check for and request
    this key if this skill looks relevant to the user's request.

## Core Rules

-   **Use the Wrapper**: ALWAYS execute the provided helper scripts to query the
    database rather than accessing the database directly. The scripts
    automatically enforce the required rate limit gracefully.

-   **Rate Limiting**: Respect openFDA rate limits. Without API key: 240
    requests/min, 1,000 requests/day per IP. With API key: 240 requests/min,
    120,000 requests/day per key. Always set an API key before running
    multi-query workflows.

> **Warning**: An automated agent can easily exhaust the 1,000-request daily
> limit in a single research session. Always set an API key before running
> multi-query workflows.

> You **MUST** use the safe credentials protocol in the `credentials` skill to
> help the user add `FDA_API_KEY` to their `.env` file if this skill looks
> relevant to the user's request. The script will emit a warning to stderr if no
> API key is detected.

The rest: https://github.com/google-deepmind/science-skills/blob/HEAD/skills/openfda_database/SKILL.md