Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Acts of 1938, 1954, 1958 By Carly Mackay This act was created to protect consumers from harmful products in the drugs, food, and cosmetics they bought Gave the Food and Drug administration the power to oversee the safety of food, drugs, and cosmetics • Presented to Franklin Roosevelt by Congress; he signed it on June 25, 1938 • Replaced the 1906 Food and drugs act which was weakly enforced • 1954 Pesticides Amendment (set limits for pesticide residue on agricultural goods) • 1958 Food Additives Amendment (required FDA approval of any food additive found to cause cancer in humans or animals) “The American Chamber of Horrors” = The list of products that were not included in the 1906 version of this law. They included: According to, “http://www .fda.gov/oc/ history/hist oryoffda/se ction2.html” 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Banbar, a worthless "cure" for diabetes that the old law protected Lash-Lure, an eyelash dye that blinded some women Numerous examples of foods deceptively packaged or labeled Radithor, a radium-containing tonic that sentenced users to a slow and painful death The Wilhide Exhaler, which falsely promised to cure tuberculosis and other pulmonary diseases This legislative act was finally brought to the public’s attention when a drug company marketed Elixir Sulfanilamide, which contained a deadly chemical similar to antifreeze. Over 100 people died after using this product that was untested. Goals of The FDCA 1. Protect the public’s safety “The FDA ensures safety through inspections of products already on the market, controls the manufacturing practices of companies, and possesses recall and seizure authority.” according to http://www.answers.com/topic/federal-food-drug-and-cosmetic-act 2. To reveal information to consumers The FDA outlaws misbranding and incorrect product labeling and requires some information on product labels like: a. b. The nutritional content box Possible side effects and drug interactions