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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Mar 17, 2009 |
Teleconference on Legislation to Help Curtail Overuse of Antibiotics on Factory FarmsChipotle restaurant CEO joins Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY) and leading antibiotic expert to discuss the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act of 2009. More info |
Antibiotics in Food Animal Production |
| Jan 28, 2009 |
Pharmaceutical Industry MarketingReports of pharmaceutical and medical device industry marketing expenditures vary - pharmaceutical manufacturers spend billions annually on marketing - detailing, journal advertising, pharmaceutical samples and direct-to-consumer advertising. What can be done to protect patients, control health care costs, and bolster professionalism among physicians? The Prescription Project promotes a range of solutions for consumers, physicians, state and federal policy makers, and public and private payers. More info |
Conflicts of Interest |
| Dec 15, 2008 |
Non-physician Prescribers and Pharmaceutical Industry InteractionsIndustry marketing to non-physician prescribers has increased markedly in recent years to roughly 20 million detail visits in 2006, a 20% increase over 2004. More info |
Conflicts of Interest |
| Dec 1, 2008 |
Defaulting on the Dream:ArizonaOne in 18 homeowners in Arizona is estimated to be in foreclosure by the end of 2010, as a result of a subprime-related loan. Years of easily accessible credit and relatively low home prices that facilitated homeownership in the state have ended, leaving in their wake stricter lending terms and stagnating home appreciation. More info |
Consumer Financial Security |
| Nov 19, 2008 |
FDA Responsibilities and ResourcesCharged with responsibility for keeping 80% of the nation's food supply (including fresh produce) safe, the FDA receives less than 25% of federal dollars spent on food safety activities. More info |
Food Safety |
| Nov 19, 2008 |
Produce-Related Foodborne-Illness OutbreaksFrom 1990 through 2005, at least 713 produce-related outbreaks have occurred. This issue brief summarizes 15 years of produce-related illness outbreaks in the U.S. More info |
Food Safety |
| Nov 19, 2008 |
Foodborne Pathogens Associated with Fresh Fruits and VegetablesThere are a number of foodborne microbial pathogens associated with the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables that can cause illness or death among consumers who eat contaminated produce. This document summarizes the major foodborne microbial pathogens that may be found in fresh produce, including Cyclospora cayetanensis, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Hepatitis A, Listeria monocytogenes, Norovirus, Salmonella spp., and Shigella spp. More info |
Food Safety |
| Nov 18, 2008 |
Cost of Foodborne IllnessFoodborne illnesses carry with them significant economic and social costs that extend far beyond the immediate victim. More info |
Food Safety |
| Nov 18, 2008 |
FDA Actions Regarding Produce SafetyFor more than a decade, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recognized the challenge of making fresh produce safer. However, it has relied on voluntary guidelines. This document summarizes a decade of government initiatives that fall short of the mandatory and enforceable federal safety standards needed for domestic and imported fresh fruits and vegetables. More info |
Food Hazards |
| Nov 7, 2008 |
MedPAC Recommendations - Public Reporting of Physicians' Financial RelationshipsFinal recommendations approved by commission on November 6, 2008 - five recommendations to Congress regarding legislation about disclosure of relationships and gifts and payments made to physicians from pharmaceutical and medical device/supply manufacturers. More info |
Conflicts of Interest |
| Oct 3, 2008 |
Safe Credit Card Project Regulatory Comment:In October 2008, the Pew Safe Credit Cards Project shared comments (PDF) based on its recent work on credit cards with the Federal Reserve. Select findings from the project—including information on credit card penalty re-pricing and analysis of credit cards in the market—were included. More info |
Credit Cards |
