Seems whenever you turn on the news, there is some product recall, or some alert or warning being issued about this food, this drug, or both. Given the recent recall scare in the pet food industry, it makes one a little less confident about the Government Agencies that are supposed to protect the consumer. I know it has me scared.
With all the recent outbreaks of e-coli and such, it was already becoming a concern, but the pet food debacle I think sealed it for me, and our household. Granted, I haven’t heard much about what our own Government Agencies are doing, or missing. However, I know that now I no longer buy USA Produce, and we rarely bought meat products or fish products from the USA, sticking to Canadian. Now it is a total cut off.
The latest is however, regarding the drug for Diabetics; Avandia. Being Diabetic, I take Glyburide, so it doesn’t effect me, however it is scary to think that even the drugs being offered are not safe. I recall when Celebrex came out, and Mom tried it, but found it no more effective for her arthritis than Tylenol, so we dropped it. Thankfully. That later turned into quite the scare, plus Vioxx as well, which we also tried.
Considering the cost of drugs, and food these days, it makes one wonder if they shouldn’t perhaps start their own garden out back for veggies, and get a barn or something to raise chickens and a cow or two. I mean this really is getting nasty, but what the fuck is going on? Is it really simply a lack of proper inspection, carelessness during manufacture, improper testing, or is it an assault on our food chain from outside sources?
Public Citizen sent a letter to the FDA complaining that an internal FDA memo from 2002 indicates that FDA scientists recommended labels for Avandia and Actos, another common diabetes drug, be changed to include a warning that there had been reports of heart failure for patients using the drugs. The group claims that despite the memo, the labels have not been changed. (see Story)
In this particular instance, it makes me really wonder about the cost of these drugs. I mean the drug companies bitch like hell about how expensive it is, due to the rigorous testing required by the FDA, and then you get a warning like this. Worse, you find out that it was known for years before being public, and I wonder if the tail isn’t wagging the dog instead of the dog wagging the tail. Seems to me, these drug companies and the FDA are failing in their duties here, and that somehow the FDA no longer seems to be in charge.
Looking at their response to the contaminated catfish imported from China, and now this, makes me wonder if Bush’s legacy will not be the War in Iraq, but his politicizing of all government agencies, making them subservient to Business Interests, rather than to the public’s interest. Surely there should be more of an outcry, and yet it seems no one is really bitching. Is it apathy, or lack of understanding? Or perhaps it is because the News is no longer independent, but a slave to the advertising dollar?
