The Necessity of the FDA

Things today are certainly different from the late 1800s and early 1900s when it comes to drugs and products that affect our health. With the establishment of the FDA in 1906 came much protection for consumers – a protection that we take for granted today.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is often seen as a meddling and overbearing institution. We usually hear how difficult it is to get things approved by the FDA and how much research goes into each product. If we would take a look back 150 years or so, however, we would be thankful that there is an agency watching out for our good the way the FDA is.

False or Misleading Labels

Up until the early 1900s, consumers were at the mercy of the seller. Food, drinks, and medicine often had labels, but there was no regulation of the accuracy of the labels. A product could claim to contain certain things, but really be made up of other substances altogether. Elixirs and medications for various ailments were common, but the user never really knew what they contained. There was also no telling if the medication did what the manufacturer claimed it would do. There were many products labeled as a cure for things like headaches and stomach pains. Many did nothing. There was no investigation on the safety of these products, and more than one of them contained cocaine and other dangerous and addicting substances.

Acts of the FDA for Consumers’ Protection

Along came the FDA. The Food and Drugs Act of 1906 was the official beginning of the FDA. This law prohibited interstate commerce in adulterated and misbranded food and drugs. (1) Our country was slowly taking value in the protection and safety of the consumer, as was seen in a number of other Acts by the FDA: The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938 was passed after a legally marketed toxic elixir killed 107 people, including many children. This Act completely overhauled the public health system. (1) The Kefauver-Harris Amendments of 1962, which were inspired by the thalidomide tragedy in Europe (and the FDA’s vigilance that prevented the drug’s marketing in the United States), strengthened the rules for drug safety and required manufacturers to prove their drugs’ effectiveness. (1)

Today the FDA regulates over $1 trillion worth of products every year. It is responsible for ensuring the safety of all food except for meat and egg products, for monitoring the safety and effectiveness of all medications and medical devices, and monitoring other items for our safety.

Today we live in a society where we can be confident in the products we buy and the medications we use. The standards are high and requirements are stiff, but the result is that manufacturers are not able to take advantage of the trusting public.