Playing “Kick the FDA” — Risk-free to Players but Hazardous to Public Health

Abstract

Kicking the FDA has become a popular sport for the press and legislators. Dr. Alastair Wood argues that it is time to demand that the critics assume their own share of responsibility for the recent problems. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for regulating $1 trillion worth of consumer products, or 25% of the U.S. consumer economy — the food we eat, the cosmetics we use, the medical devices implanted in our bodies or used in our care, and the drugs we take. It is of grave concern when an agency with such pervasive effects on our lives loses the public's confidence. Public opinion polls show that confidence in the FDA fell from 80% in the 1970s to 36% in 20061 — ratings usually reserved for tobacco companies and used-car dealers. Much of this . . .