As Full Disclosure Nears, Doctors’ Pay for Drug Talks Plummets

Staff / Truthdig Mar 4, 2014 As transparency increases and blockbuster drugs lose patent protection, drug companies have dramatically scaled back payments to doctors for promotional talks. This fall, all drug and medical device companies will be required to report payments to doctors. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

FDA Opens Review of Rules for Over-the-Counter Drugs, Including Acetaminophen

Staff / Truthdig Mar 1, 2014 Federal regulators’ announcement that they will examine the regulation of non-prescription drugs such as acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, follows a ProPublica investigation. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Crude Oil Made From Algae May Compete With Cheap Petroleum

Staff / Truthdig Jan 7, 2014 Scientists can turn the sea plants into oil in less than 60 minutes; the FDA is forcing antibacterial soap manufacturers to prove the efficacy of their product or take it off the shelves; meanwhile, America's state borders would look very different if many had their way. These discoveries and more after the jump. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Trans Fats Banned

Bob Englehart, Cagle Cartoons, The Hartford Courant Nov 9, 2013 Dig deeper

Trans Fats

Clay Bennett / Truthdig Nov 9, 2013 Dig deeper

FDA Moves to Ban Trans Fats

Alexander Reed Kelly / Truthdig Nov 7, 2013 U.S. food safety officials are taking steps to prohibit the use of trans fats in foods, a move they say could prevent 7,000 deaths and 20,000 heart attacks each year. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Is Variety of Contamination the Spice of Life?

Alexander Reed Kelly / Truthdig Oct 31, 2013 An analysis of spice imports to the U.S. found that about 12 percent of them are contaminated with "insect parts, whole insects, rodent hairs and other things," The New York Times reports. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

As Salmonella Outbreak Unfolds, Most Federal Inspectors Are Idled

BLANK Oct 10, 2013 The tea party-driven government shutdown includes the vast majority of inspectors and other government officials charged with monitoring food-safety practices. Upton Sinclair, where are you when we need you? Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

The Environment Unprotected From Sequester

Alexander Reed Kelly / Truthdig Mar 3, 2013 Thanks to the dreaded sequester cuts, the nation's habitat will take a sizable hit as the development of clean energy is set back and 8,400 meat inspectors are furloughed. The oil industry, however, emerges as a victor as it gets to keep its billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies while the EPA sees its funding for monitoring and cleanup reduced, Mother Jones reports. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Seafood Fraud Abounds in the United States (Video)

Alexander Reed Kelly / Truthdig Feb 27, 2013 Behold another example of the collapse of U.S. regulatory structure: One of the largest seafood fraud investigations in the world found that one-third of seafood products sold in restaurants and grocery stores across the country were mislabeled according to Food and Drug Administration standards. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Where’s the Beef? Hint: It’s Not in Findus Frozen Beef Lasagne

Tracy Bloom / Truthdig Feb 9, 2013 Tests by the British Food Standards Agency revealed that the European food company's product contained up to 100 percent horse meat. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

The Ick in Your Shrimp

Alexander Reed Kelly / Truthdig Jan 25, 2013 Seafood consumed in restaurants like Red Lobster is likely to be imported from foreign factory-style farms, where antibiotics, bacteria and carcinogenic drugs are found in products that often go uninspected by the Food and Drug Administration. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )