US FDA examines how it tells of food, drug risks

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is examining the way it tells the public about safety concerns with foods, prescription drugs, medical devices and other products it regulates, the agency’s commissioner said Thursday.

“How we communicate what we do is as important as what it is we are doing,” Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach told the first meeting of a new advisory panel on communication of risks.

“Quite candidly, if one looks at external data there has been an erosion of trust. Some of that is not necessarily because people believe we are doing the wrong thing, but basically because perhaps they need to better understand and appreciate what we are doing,” he added.

The FDA issues warnings about drug side effects, recalls of tainted food and other concerns. Often the agency issues press releases to the media or releases statements on its Web site.

In recent years, the agency has started making public announcements about potential risks of medicines before officials determine whether the problems are drug-related.

Some experts worry that the warnings create confusion, or that there is little balance with information about benefits.

Von Eschenbach said the FDA would consider changing the way it explains product risks to the media and the public.