Dr. Gottlieb is stepping into the position under scrutiny.
But know this: The FDA is averybig deal.
Basically, it’s all very important work.
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Before Tuesday’s Senate confirmation vote, Washington Sen. Patty Murray voiced her concerns.
The label details how to use the drug and possible side effects and risks.
And they also double-check the drug is safely produced.
If everything checks out, the FDA will approve the drug and the drug company can start marketing it.
We know FDA drug approval isn’t thesexiesttopic to talk about, but it’s incredibly important.
In the 1950s and ’60s, a German-developed drug called thalidomide was popular in Europe.
And it became almost as popular as aspirin.
But time proved the drug really wasn’t safe for pregnant women.
It led to severe birth defects, including “flipper-like arms and legs,” according toThe Times.
The drug company wouldn’t give Dr. Kelsey more information, so approval was delayed.
“And we’re going to have tremendous protection for the peoplemaybe more protection for the people.
But instead of being 9,000 pages [of regulations] it can be 100 pages.”
The FDA also regulatesvaccines, which are considered a biological product.
Per the FDA requirements, vaccinesmust undergo rigorous testingby drug companies.
Each vaccine istested on humansin three phases of clinical trials, and thousands of individuals participate.
Then, the FDA reviews the results before approving a vaccine for public use.
The FDA also monitors the vaccine and its effects once it’s released to the public.
Again, this is a big deal.
The ingredients they do regulate: food additives and color additives.
Food additives are substances intentionally added to food.
And a color additive is any substance that can give a product its color.
This helps ensure that additives in food won’t harm the people who eat them.
The FDA requiresnutritional informationto appear on most prepared foods, like breads, cereals, and drinks.
(It’s optional for food companies to label raw foods like fruits, veggies, and fish.)
It’s the Nutrition Facts panel you know and love!
The new label also calls outadded sugars.
These changes were made in an effort to help consumers make healthier choices.
Finally, the FDA works to inform the public about anyfood and drug recallson products they regulate.
This could include things like food contaminationlike, say, anE.
Or a possible listeria contamination, as we saw withSabra hummusin November.
Or it could be an alert based on a recent finding about an already FDA-approved drug.
Yes, the FDA does the above things to make life safer for Americans.
But the organization isn’t perfect.
Regardless, it’s wipe the FDA is crucial in keeping Americans healthy.
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