Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently delivered a scathing speech to Food and Drug Administration staff, criticizing the agency for being too cozy with industries it regulates. In his address, Kennedy accused the FDA of becoming a “sock puppet” for the food industry and failing to address food contamination. He also called for reform of the FDA’s “GRAS” pathway and emphasized the need to determine the causes of autism.
Kennedy’s speech highlighted his long-standing belief that federal health agencies are too closely aligned with the industries they oversee. He has previously accused the CDC of being a subsidiary of the pharmaceutical industry and has called for greater transparency and accountability in the regulatory process.
The speech comes amid recent layoffs at the FDA, including top vaccine regulators, and Kennedy did not address this during his remarks. He encouraged FDA staff to speak out against their managers and promised to empower whistleblowers within the agency.
In response to Kennedy’s speech, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services acknowledged the need for greater transparency and leadership within the FDA. The spokesperson praised Kennedy for speaking out against industry influence and encouraged radical transparency in regulatory processes.
Overall, Kennedy’s speech underscored the ongoing debate over the FDA’s relationship with industry and the need for greater accountability in the regulatory process.
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