Food and Drug Administration

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is a federal agency responsible for regulating and supervising the safety of food, drugs, medical devices, cosmetics, and other products. Recent news highlights concerns regarding the FDA's oversight of generic drugs, particularly their manufacturing origins and potential ineffectiveness compared to brand-name counterparts. ProPublica's release of data and tools like Rx Inspector aim to increase transparency and allow consumers to track the factories where their generic drugs are made and the FDA's inspection records. Additionally, the FDA's vaccine approval process is under scrutiny, with experts raising concerns about stricter protocols potentially hindering vaccine development. These developments underscore the FDA's critical role in public health and the ongoing debate surrounding its regulatory practices and their impact on access to safe and effective medications and vaccines.