Featured Issue Briefs
The Battle on the Home Front: Jonathan Gadsden's Story
Marine Lance Corporal's story reflects the growing need for new antibiotics that can treat dangerous diseases, against which most drugs are useless. Read More
Facilitating Medical Device Innovation: De Novo Reform
The de novo process -- which requests lower-risk reclassification of medical devices and entry into the marketplace -- as it exists now is not achieving its purpose and has instead added unnecessary and time-consuming requirements. Read More
Food Products Recalled by FDA
Since President Obama signed the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act into law, at least 149 FDA-regulated food products have been recalled due to potential pathogenic contamination. Read More
More Issue Briefs
| Date | Issue Briefs | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 30, 2009 |
No Economic Advantage to Industrialized Pork ProductionIn October 2008, a panel formed to conduct a comprehensive, fact-based examination of key aspects of the farm animal industry. The report found that the current industrial method of raising pigs for food carries no economic advantage over more natural pig farming. The researchers determined that when the costs to society and communities are taken into account – particularly the costs of waste treatment - industrial animal production actually carries a higher price tag. More info |
Antibiotics in Food Animal Production |
| May 1, 2009 |
Testimony of Allan Coukell, Director of the Pew Prescription Project, on Protecting Consumers from Adulterated DrugsProtecting consumers against the risk of adulterated products is, of course, the original mission of the FDA. Today, the vast majority of pharmaceutical products sold in the United States today are not adulterated, but an increasingly complex supply chain creates new challenges and new risks – as recent events demonstrate. More info |
Drug Manufacturing and Distribution, Drug Safety |
| May 20, 2009 |
Curing Credit Card PenaltiesCongress is set to enact new legislation that will make credit cards safer and more fair for consumers. As lawmakers negotiate final details before President Obama can sign the bill, new analysis from the Pew Health Group highlights the importance of a safeguard found only in the Senate’s version of the law. More info |
Credit Cards |
| Jun 10, 2009 |
FDA Globalization Act of 2009: Drug Safety ProvisionsThe Food and Drug Administration Globalization Act of 2009 (H.R.759) seeks to secure the safety of imported prescription drugs and active pharmaceutical ingredients through greater FDA authority and manufacturer responsibility, and increased inspections of prescription drug and active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturing sites abroad. More info |
Drug Manufacturing and Distribution, Drug Safety |
| Jun 25, 2009 |
Regulatory Comment on Credit CARD Act Reasonable and Proportional RuleThe Pew Safe Credit Cards Project submitted comments to the Federal Reserve Board in regard to rulemaking under the Credit CARD Act of 2009. These comments focused specifically on the law’s requirement that penalty fees and charges must be reasonable and proportional to related cardholder omissions or violations. More info |
Credit Cards |
| Jul 2, 2009 |
Bill Summary - Counterfeit Drug Enforcement Act of 2009This issue brief is a summary of H.R. 2726 - The Counterfeit Drug Enforcement Act of 2009, also known as the Tim Fagan Law. More info |
Drug Safety, Medical Safety Policy |
| Jul 10, 2009 |
Bill Comparison - Regulation of Overseas Drug ManufacturingThis issue brief from the Pew Prescription Project outlines the differences between bills from the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate regarding regulation of overseas drug manufacturing. More info |
Drug Safety |
| Jul 15, 2009 |
Testimony: Robert P. Martin Before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on RulesTestimony from Robert P. Martin, Senior Officer, Pew Environment Group, before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Rules regarding the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act (PAMTA). More info |
Antibiotics in Food Animal Production |
| Jul 21, 2009 |
Pew letter to the FDA in response to their public recognition of animal agriculture's contribution to antimicrobial resistanceThe Pew Campaign on Human Health and Industrial Farming (Pew) would like to extend our sincere thanks to you both for taking the time to meet with us on June 23 to discuss the contribution of animal agriculture to the growing public health crisis of antimicrobial resistance. We are deeply appreciative not only of your consideration of our viewpoints, but also the expertise and dedication that you bring to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). More info |
Antibiotics in Food Animal Production |
| Jul 24, 2009 |
Letter to the Assistant to the President for Domestic PolicyOur combined memberships include the country’s foremost scientific and medical experts and represent more than eleven million concerned Americans and health professionals. Our position is based on objective health interests and concerns that dangerous drug resistant infections are rapidly increasing in hospitals and community settings adding to the economic burden of the U.S. healthcare costs. More info |
Antibiotics in Food Animal Production |
| Sep 21, 2009 |
Regulatory Comment on Credit CARD Act Rule: Advanced Notice and Cancel RequirementsThe Pew Safe Credit Cards Project submitted comments (PDF) to the Federal Reserve Board regarding the Board’s interim final rules under Regulation Z (Docket No. R-1364). The rules cover advance notice and right to cancel requirements under the Credit CARD Act of 2009. Pew’s comments focused on a number of exceptions the Board proposed, which could allow issuers to raise interest rates, change minimum required payment levels and impose potentially large deferred interest charges with little or no advance warning. More info |
Credit Cards |
| Sep 27, 2009 |
Letter from Danish Technical University Professor to Speaker Nancy PelosiWe have just had the pleasure of meeting with a delegation consisting of four members of the House of Representatives, where we presented our data on the effects of the stop for nontherapeutic use of antimicrobials for food animals in Denmark.We know that various rumours and sometimes “creative” interpretations of what has taken place in Denmark have been circulated to members of the US Congress, and we are grateful for having been given this opportunity to correct some of these stories. More info |
Antibiotics in Food Animal Production |
| Oct 7, 2009 |
Getting with the ProgramThis report finds that nearly one in 10 community college students in the U.S. can’t get a federal loan if they need one because their schools choose not to participate in the federal loan programs. More info |
Consumer Financial Security |
| Nov 12, 2009 |
Children and Foodborne IllnessChildren are disproportionately affected by foodborne illness, a serious public health problem. Approximately half of the reported foodborne illnesses occur in children. Every year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that tens of millions of Americans fall ill, hundreds of thousands are hospitalized, and thousands die from foodborne illnesses. More info |
Food Hazards |
| Nov 19, 2009 |
Regulatory Comment on Credit Card Disclosure RequirementsThe Pew Safe Credit Cards Project submitted comments (PDF) to the Federal Reserve Board regarding the Board’s latest proposed rulemaking under Regulation Z (Docket No. R—1370). The rules implement provisions of the Credit CARD Act of 2009 that are effective February 22, 2010. Pew’s comments focused on clarifying the rights of consumers in a credit card contract and increased responsibility for and disclosure from credit card issuers. More info |
Credit Cards |
| Dec 8, 2009 |
Letter from Danish Chief Veterinarian to CongressIn Denmark the termination of non-therapeutic use of antimicrobials for growth promotion has not caused any negative impact on the animal production. The Danish animal food industry has continued to improve its productivity and to increase its output. More info |
Antibiotics in Food Animal Production |
| Dec 21, 2009 |
Capitol Hill Briefing: Industrial Animal Farms and Worker Health and SafetyOn December 17, 2009, Pew hosted a briefing on Capitol Hill in collaboration with Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva, Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Leading experts discussed the public health and sociological effects of industrial farm animal production for farm workers and rural communities. More info |
Antibiotics in Food Animal Production |
| Feb 2, 2010 |
Charts Displaying Denmark's Decline in Antibiotic ResistanceThese charts summarize Denmark's decline in antibiotic usage and antibiotic resistance, as well as the increase of livestock and poultry production after a ban on the nontheraputic use of antibiotics and antimicrobial drugs in food production animals. More info |
Antibiotics in Food Animal Production |
| Feb 8, 2010 |
Important Human Medicines Used on Industrial FarmsIndustrial animal farms commonly administer low doses of antibiotics and other antimicrobials (drugs that fight microorganisms like bacteria and viruses) to pigs, cows, chickens, sheep, and other food animal species for the purpose of growth promotion or weight gain. Typically, these sub-therapeutic doses, which are generally not high enough to fight active diseases or infections, are given directly to animals in their feed or water. More info |
Antibiotics in Food Animal Production |
| Feb 8, 2010 |
Food Safety and the Antibiotic Resistance CrisisAccording to a first-ever study by professors at the University of Regina in the United Kingdom, U.S. food safety ranks seventh or “average” among 17 other industrialized nations. At least 76 million cases of food-borne disease occur each year in the U.S. While many health problems caused by contaminated food are not serious, some food-borne infections are much more dangerous, leading to convulsions, premature delivery and miscarriage, sepsis, or even death. More info |
Antibiotics in Food Animal Production |
| Feb 8, 2010 |
Antibiotic Resistance and the Industrial Animal FarmAntibiotics are commonly prescribed drugs that kill bacteria or suppress their ability to grow, allowing the human immune system to respond and heal from illness. Antibiotic resistance is a dangerous bacterial trait which enables bacteria to survive and continue to grow instead of being inhibited or destroyed by therapeutic doses of the drug. As a result, antibiotic-resistant bacteria can evade the effects of the antibiotic and multiply, with severe consequences for human health. More info |
Antibiotics in Food Animal Production |
| Feb 8, 2010 |
Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria in Animals and Unnecessary Human Health RisksIn the United States, many food animals—poultry, swine and cattle—are routinely treated with antibiotics in order to grow animals faster and to compensate for unsanitary conditions on many industrial farms. Recently, major increases in antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections in human populations have led to public health concerns regarding antibiotic use for non-therapeutic purposes (i.e., not used to treat disease) in animals destined for food production. More info |
Antibiotics in Food Animal Production |
| Feb 8, 2010 |
Industrial Farms and Antibiotic ResistanceBasic information on antibiotics, their use on industrial animal farms, and the problem of antibiotic resistance from the Pew Campaign on Human Health and Industrial Farming. More info |
Antibiotics in Food Animal Production |
| Feb 19, 2010 |
Produce Safety Project: Stakeholders' Discussion Series MeetingsThe Food and Drug Administration announced in December 2009, that it was going to establish a nationwide produce safety standard for the growing, harvesting and packing of fresh fruits and vegetables and opened an official docket for comments in February 2010. More info |
Food Safety |
| Feb 22, 2010 |
Moving Towards Safer Credit CardsOn February 22, major new consumer protections took effect as part of the second implementation phase of the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009. Just two practices addressed in this second phase will save American consumers at least $10 billion a year. The Pew Health Group's Safe Credit Cards Project is looking ahead to the third and final phase of the Credit CARD Act, to take effect August 22, 2010, which will require all credit card penalties to be “reasonable and proportional” and will direct card issuers to review all interest rate increases since the beginning of 2009. More info |
Credit Cards |
