FDA So Understaffed It Inspects Less Than One Percent Of Imported Food [View All]

[babylonsister]

100 days later, nation waits for FDA overhaul
Tom Costello


The Food and Drug Administration may be the only federal agency that both political parties agree is in desperate need of an overhaul.

President Barack Obama is promising action, though progress has been slow in the first 100 days. His choice to head the FDA — Dr. Margaret Hamburg — still has not been confirmed by congress.

Assuming Hamburg is confirmed, she will head an agency whose own Science Board concluded more than two years ago “is at risk of failing to carry out its mandate, leaving our citizens at risk of grievous harm.”

The FDA is responsible for overseeing the safety of the nation’s foods, drugs, medical devices and consumer products. In each of those areas, the agency is widely regarded as having fallen down on the job.

But its biggest black eye comes from the way the agency has handled its food safety responsibilities.

Safety of the food supply

The president has promised to act quickly to ensure the safety of the nation’s food supply, following the most recent salmonella outbreak involving peanut butter that has sickened nearly 500 people and killed 10.

That outbreak follows others involving baby formula, pet food, spinach, jalapenos, cooked ham, anchovies — and the list goes on.

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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30388073/