FDA Enforcement: A Story in Pictures

In the wake of 9/11 and the October 2001 anthrax attacks, the government beefed up its efforts to inspect the nation's food and drug supply. It was a logical move, since both represented potential focal points for terrorist activity. But like everything else the Bush adminsitration sought to do in its War on Terror, the effort flagged once the War in Iraq got underway and diverted government resources to that ill-conceived, poorly executied and, as we now see, ill-fated adventure.

Here's the latest statistics from the FDA's Office of Enforcement:

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A similar fate has befallen the FDA's efforts to police quality. Here's the agency's record in admonishing manufacturers for poor performance:

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