The early read: FDA overhaul on Obama’s agenda
By Gina Spadafori
November 7, 2008
Weird little AP piece that doesn’t even mention melamine, but nonetheless, it would appear the FDA is in for a shock, and maybe a return to its mandate:
The Food and Drug Administration, bedeviled by a salmonella outbreak and tainted medicine from China, is likely to monitor imports and fresh produce more closely under an Obama administration.
[...]
Long seen as the government’s premier consumer protection agency, the FDA stumbled under Bush. Recurring drug and food safety lapses came against a backdrop of shrinking budgets and long periods without a permanent leader. In Congress, a senior Republican complained the FDA had gotten too cozy with industry.
Obama is being urged to move quickly to appoint an FDA commissioner. Already more than a half-dozen names are in circulation: outside critics such as Cleveland Clinic cardiologist Dr. Steven Nissen; insiders such as Susan Wood, a former director of the FDA’s women’s health office; and public health advocates such as Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, Baltimore’s health chief.
Food safety will be a priority for Obama’s FDA. “He thinks this is a fundamental role of government to ensure that people’s food is safe and he has been concerned that we are not in a position to ensure that,” said Neera Tanden, a senior campaign adviser.
Here’s the article. Since the FDA seems to have long ago lost its copy of the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 that was supposed to be its constitution, here it is. Read up, FDA. You have work to do.
Fortunately, the president-elect has his friend and mentor, fellow Illinois Sen. Dick Durban, to call on for help. No one did more during the pet-food recall to call the FDA on the carpet for its lapses, and no one has showed more leadership on the issue since. (Image: President-elect Barack Obama with Sen. Dick Durbin.)
Yes! I knew I pushed the right button.
Comment by Lori — November 7, 2008 @ 6:47 am
I am one of those who started doing the homemade food thing during the recalls which includes some grinding of meat. I bought the meat grinder recommended most often by seasoned BARF (Bones and Raw Foods) feeders because I knew it would hold up to steady use. Unfortunately, the name of this grinder turns out to be rather ironic in wake of the results of the election:
http://www.pierceequipment.com/grinders.html
On the other hand, maybe I should view this as a sort of “Phbbbbbttttt~~~~!!!!!” statement on the election results . . . . . . . . .
Comment by The OTHER Pat — November 7, 2008 @ 7:05 am
The Maverick?! That is pretty funny.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — November 7, 2008 @ 7:08 am
Yup! That’s the one! (Or maybe I should say “Yup! THAT one!”)
Comment by The OTHER Pat — November 7, 2008 @ 7:13 am
Now I don’t want to be an “I told you so” but I just knew that Durbin was going to get priority on this.
And won’t it be refreshing to have someone heading up food and drug safety who is actually concerned about the consumer rather than China or big industry.
Comment by 2CatMom — November 7, 2008 @ 8:04 am
There will be big changes to the USDA staff as well!
New Congress, new faces on ag committees:
The incoming Congress will have one new face that well-known to U.S. agriculture. Former Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns handily won his race for the Senate seat vacated in Nebraska by Sen. Chuck Hagel.
Some major changes could be in store for the Senate Agriculture Committee. There are rumors that Chairman Tom Harkin could lead the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee if Sen. Edward Kennedy, the current chairman, relinquishes the post. That could make Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D., Ark.) a potential successor as other Democrats with more seniority on the ag committee already chair other committees.
Meanwhile, the committee’s ranking Republican and former chairman, Sen. Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, faces a run-off race for his seat. Chambliss was within a few votes of garnering the 50% needed to win in Georgia. While his Democratic opponent, Jim Martin, garnered only 42% of the vote because 3% went to a third-party candidate. Martin will have President-elect Barack Obama helping in the run-off race on Dec. 2.
In another close race, Sen. Norm Coleman, a Republican who serves on the agriculture committee and who is noted for his work on food aid, faces a recount in the close race in Minnesota against Democratic challenger Al Franken.
Several House Agriculture Committee members lost their bids for re-election on Nov. 4. Democrats who will not be returning include: Reps. Nancy Boyda, Kan., Nick Lampson, Tex., and Tim Mahoney, Fla. Republicans who lost re-election bids include: Reps. Robin Hayes, N.C. who is the ranking Republican on the livestock subcommittee; Marilyn Musgrave, Colo.; Randy Kuhl, N.Y.; and Tim Wahlberg, Mich.
http://www.feedstuffs.com/ME2/.....5440BDC2B8
Comment by Barb — November 7, 2008 @ 10:28 am
Oh, *good.*
Just last night on Change.gov, I sent in my hopes that the new administration would do its best to make our food and medicines safer — that it would beef up the FDA and USDA, at the very least enforce the Pure Food & Drug Act, and sponsor legislation to require better and more truthful labelling.
I can’t express how nice it is to learn it wasn’t necessary. I would’ve done it anyway, but, oh … I’m *so* happy at the prospect of an administration which will act in my interests!
Anyone’s who’s curious, go to Change.gov; up top along the menu bar, ‘American Moment’ will lead you to ‘Share Your Story,’ and ‘Share Your Vision.’
Comment by Eucritta — November 7, 2008 @ 11:43 am
Wow…I’m impressed that they are taking this serious.
It’s about time.
Comment by Marcy — November 8, 2008 @ 7:18 pm