One of the FDA's jobs is to ensure the safety of medicine administered to the public.
Since biblical times, government leaders have implemented laws to regulate the ingredients and chemicals that are used to produce food sold to the public. From King John of England's promulgation of the "Assize of Bread and Ale" law to The Worshipful Company of Bakers that began in the 1100s, agencies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have existed for centuries to ensure that mass-produced food is safe for public consumption.
Function
Located within the Department of Health and Human Services, the job of the FDA is to ensure that produce, meat, dairy, packaged goods, and other food products are proved edible and safe to human beings. The FDA also regulates the safety and effectiveness of over-the-counter and prescription drugs, medical devices, cosmetics, appliances, vaccines, and certain household appliances. Food and drugs given to pets and farm animals also fall under FDA jurisdiction. Items that pass through FDA testing receive a label listing the product's ingredients, as well as proof that it has been reviewed and approved by the FDA.
History
The origination of the FDA can be traced back to 1849 with the appointment of Lewis Caleb Beck, who was responsible for testing chemicals present in agricultural products. Although the FDA was not officially created until 1930, notable laws such as the 1906 Pure Food and Drugs Act were passed to protect the public from questionable and mislabeled food and drugs. Before its name was shortened to its current version, the FDA was also known as the Division of Chemistry, the Bureau of Chemistry and the Food, Drug and Insecticide Administration.
Misconceptions
Though the FDA's name implies that it is only responsible for regulating the safety and quality of food and prescription drugs, the agency also monitors the public's blood supply by making sure that blood banks operate in sanitary conditions and follow FDA guidelines to minimize the possibility of contamination. The FDA also guarantees the purity and effectiveness of medical specimens developed from living organisms, such as vaccines and insulin.
Benefits
The FDA has the ability to recall medicine and food that have been contaminated with harmful bacteria and pesticides, which can cause adverse side effects. In addition to having the ability to forcibly remove products from the market, the FDA will either destroy the defective product or force the manufacturer to revamp the item so that it complies with FDA regulations. An FDA hotline number is also available if the public has questions about food safety, or needs to report a complaint, concern or emergency.
Interesting Fact
Each year, the FDA is responsible for monitoring nearly $1 trillion worth of consumer products that are manufactured, imported, stored, transported and sold in the United States. In addition, approximately 30,000 shipments imported into the United States are held at ports due to their failure to meet FDA standards and 3,000 products are recalled from the marketplace annually.
Tags: ensure that, Food Drug, prescription drugs, United States