Wednesday, July 23, 2008 by: Mike Adams Comments by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger(NaturalNews) Watching the FDA trip over its own clumsy self while groping for answers on Salmonella is a sad affair. Following the FDA-encouraged destruction of tens of millions of dollars of perfectly good tomatoes, this confused, bewildered agency admits that tomatoes may not have been the problem after all, and it has now set its sights on destroying the peppers industry. Is there no vegetable safe from the de

By Mike Adams NaturalNews | Watching the FDA trip over its own clumsy self while groping for answers on Salmonella is a sad affair. Following the FDA-encouraged destruction of tens of millions of dollars of perfectly good tomatoes, this confused, bewildered agency admits that tomatoes may not have been the problem after all, and it has now set its sights on destroying the peppers industry. Is there no vegetable safe from the destruction of the FDA? Cartoon by Mike Adams. Source NaturalN

If the FDA cannot do its job, the health and safety of the U.S. are at risk. In recognition of this, in December 2006 FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach, MD, formed a subcommittee to assess whether the FDA can support current and future regulatory needs.

The subcommittee concluded that the FDA is in a precarious position. It suffers from serious deficiencies, and is not prepared to meet its responsibilities.

The demands on the FDA have soared due to the advance of science and the complexities of new products. At the same time, the resources available to the FDA have not increased to meet this demand.

The FDA will soon flounder and fail unless it improves its scientific research, staff, and information infrastructure. At present, according to the subcommittee:

• The FDA cannot fulfill its own mission because its scientific base has eroded
• The FDA cannot fulfill its own mission because it does not have sufficient capacity and capability
• The FDA cannot fulfill its own mission because its information technology infrastructure is inadequate

That means that the FDA does not have the ability to ensure the safety of food or to adequately regulate medical products.

Aim and Act: FDA Cracks Down on Alternative Cancer Companies

Tobacco companies manipulate menthol levels in cigarettes to appeal to newer, younger smokers, as part of a deliberate strategy to get younger people hooked.

Menthol can make cigarettes more palatable to a novice smoker. Internal tobacco-industry documents which show that companies researched how menthol levels could affect sales among different demographic groups. Cigarettes with milder menthol levels appeal to younger smokers. The deliberate manipulation of menthol levels was accompanied by more focused advertising of mentholated cigarettes.

A bill pending in Congress would give the U.S. FDA power to regulate menthol and other additives in cigarettes.