The FDA is the common name for the Food and Drug Administration. It is a government agency that makes consumer goods safe. It regulates food and the food supply. It also controls diet supplement. The FDA also makes sure that drugs and medical instruments are safe and effective.
For drugs and medical machines to be accepted, they must go through a certain process. There are many strict tests. First, anything that humans use must be tested on animals. This may take up to 6 years. Then, it must be tested with a few people. Testing on 15 to 20 people can last up to a year and a half. Third, a mid-sized group (100 to 500 people) is used. This often takes two years. Then a large group is tested over 3 years. Of 5,000 drugs discovered, only 5 go to the final test. Of that, only one passes on to the market.
Food supplements like ginseng follow a different path. The FDA does not test them as they do for drugs. The agency only controls these products if they are unsafe but are already being sold. Two exceptions are baby and medical food. Because those that use them are not strong, the FDA is more careful with these products.
Labeling is a major focus. A label must show what a product is for. For drugs, labels should say the name of the drug and what it is used for. It should also detail who should take it and list any side effects. It needs to detail directions for pregnant women, children, or old people. It also needs to detail safety information.
The FDA protects the public from harm. It achieves this through controls and labeling. It has standards for effectiveness in medical products. It also has standards for how information is shared.
