FDA Compliance: What Challenges Does It Face In The 21st Century

A feature that is unmistaken in 21st century life is our ever growing obsession with both the way we look and celebrity culture. The merits of this ideology can be saved for another argument; for now we will look at the challenge this ideology poses with regard to FDA compliance.

21st century culture exploits our desires and wants by creating industries that serve to produce goods that satisfy our insecurities. This poses problems for FDA compliance and the pharmaceutical industry, namely the growth in manufacturers of drugs sold that claim to radically change the way we look. Many pharmaceutical companies have been quick to cash in on the idea they can provide an instant remedy to make us look the way we want.

There is big business in providing products such as dietary supplements, which are sold as a means of becoming skinnier or losing weight, as is the current ideal. The FDA has already expressed their concern over undeclared or deceptively labelled ingredients in products marketed as dietary supplements.

FDA compliance is essential in ensuring the highest standards are kept in production and that the products are safe when they are consumed by the general public. The FDA has warned that tainted dietary supplements can have seriously adverse effects on health, including strokes, organ failure and death.

This poses a real problem with regards to FDA compliance. With this being such a highly profitable industry you are more likely to see the growth of deviations away from FDA regulations, as well as a black market for the products.

The FDA will go on trying to regulate these manufactures and try to make sure they comply with their guidelines. This will become increasingly difficult as long as there is an insatiable demand for these products that offer an instant change in image. Perhaps the best form of regulation would be a change in ideology to one that is slightly less image conscious.