http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/ContactFDA/StayInformed/RSSFeeds/Viewpoint/rss.xml en-us U.S. Food and Drug Administration Viewpoint: A Message from the Acting FDA Commissioner -- weekly communication to the American public. Office of the Commissioner webmail@oc.fda.gov no Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:10:00 UTC tina.gilliam@fda.hhs.gov Viewpoint, Dan Schultz, Director of the FDA Center for Devices and Radiological Health. Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:10:00 UTC http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/CommissionersPage/Viewpoint/Archives/ucm166741.htm http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/CommissionersPage/Viewpoint/Archives/ucm166741.htm You or somebody in your family may be one of the millions of Americans who have taken one of the Hydroxycut products. And hopefully, you have stopped taking that Hydroxycut product. On May 1st, the FDA warned consumers to stop using this dietary supplement. The manufacturer has recalled from the marketplace 14 different Hydroxycut products that are marketed for weight-loss, as fat burners, as energy-enhancers, as low carb aids, and for water loss. Mon, 18 May 2009 04:00:00 UTC http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/CommissionersPage/Viewpoint/Archives/ucm155470.htm http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/CommissionersPage/Viewpoint/Archives/ucm155470.htm The FDA is actively participating in the joint federal emergency response to the current outbreak of the novel influenza A (H1N1) virus that has affected Americans across the United States - and many more globally. Fri, 08 May 2009 04:00:00 UTC http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/CommissionersPage/Viewpoint/Archives/ucm155468.htm http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/CommissionersPage/Viewpoint/Archives/ucm155468.htm It is not well known that FDA is involved around the world in work known as health diplomacy. Recently, the Nigerian government asked the FDA and our colleagues at the CDC to help investigate a cluster of deaths due to acute kidney failure among young children. In four months late last year 84 Nigerian children died from teething syrup contaminated with the chemical diethylene glycol. Diethylene glycol is anti-freeze, is poisonous, and leads to kidney failure. It is substituted for glycerol in medicinal syrups because it is cheaper. Mon, 09 Mar 2009 04:00:00 UTC http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/CommissionersPage/Viewpoint/Archives/ucm153603.htm http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/CommissionersPage/Viewpoint/Archives/ucm153603.htm At the core of any health emergency, no matter how complex or technical, are people – their work disrupted; their lives affected and sometimes lost. The outbreak of infections from salmonella associated with peanut products has sickened many hundreds of people and may have contributed to as many as nine deaths. Our hearts reach out to them and to their families, to their suffering and grieving. Mon, 02 Mar 2009 05:00:00 UTC http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/CommissionersPage/Viewpoint/Archives/ucm153611.htm http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/CommissionersPage/Viewpoint/Archives/ucm153611.htm This week the FDA created a new position in the Office of FDA's Chief Scientist dedicated to coordinating and upgrading our agency's activities involving genomics and the related fields of science that are involved in the analysis of complex DNA, protein and small molecular expression patterns. Through genomics, scientists are able to develop medical products and nutritional recommendations that are sometimes called "personalized medicine" – recommendations and therapies designed for individuals of a certain genetic makeup. Developing products that take into account genetic makeup should increase a product's effectiveness and decrease the risk of harmful side effects. For the FDA, insights gained through genomics point a way to faster and more efficient evaluation of new medical therapies and toward enhanced food safety. Mon, 02 Feb 2009 05:00:00 UTC http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/CommissionersPage/Viewpoint/Archives/ucm153614.htm http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/CommissionersPage/Viewpoint/Archives/ucm153614.htm I am using this first communication as an opportunity to introduce, in my own words, some thoughts about the FDA. I will develop these in more detail in subsequent communications. I intend these comments to communicate both to my colleagues at the FDA and to our many constituencies. Wed, 21 Jan 2009 05:00:00 UTC http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/CommissionersPage/Viewpoint/Archives/ucm153620.htm http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/CommissionersPage/Viewpoint/Archives/ucm153620.htm