What exactly does the FDA cover?

[GodKlown]

I know I spend apparently too much time watching television and seeing commercials where they talk about Food and Drug Administration approval... that much most Americans are familiar with. But they recently ran a new show on CNBC called "How Much Is Your Dead Body Worth?", and unfortunately I haven't been able to catch the whole show, just about twenty scattered minutes of it. What I head that prompted this thread was that the FDA is responsible for how dead bodies are treated... wtf?!
I attempted to search to figure out what all the FDA encompasses in the United States, but I could not find a comprehensive list of all the topics and disciplines they oversee. Granted, I'm familiar with the obvious things such as food and prescription drugs, but what is with all this side stuff like dead bodies that falls under the umbrella of the FDA? Does anyone else think that this government body has entirely too much power over too many things? And most importantly, does anyone have a clue of all the things that the FDA has dipped their balls in to? That is really bugging the crap out of me!

 

[Shru1kan]

They ensure that Food and Drugs are safe for human usage. You cannot market either one legally without approval of the product, however not all statements and taglines of said product have to be approved by them.

Probably the most thankless organization even though they stopped a lot of shady practices in both fields. Food used to be very disgusting, and people used to put ingredients commonly used as antifreeze in their medicines to speed up reactions. Dark, dark times.

 

[Snarky Username]

Mostly Food and Drugs. More specifically, they make sure that medications doesn't have the side effect of death and that your coco puffs don't have glass as the prize inside the box.

 

[sheic99]

Honestly, I came in here hoping for a brain dead moment.

Anyways this [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fda] should help you.

Edit: Their site seems to have this information also, so that might be a good place to read up on it.

 

[GodKlown]

Poor sheic... never trust the Wiki. The Wiki is a lie. I just thought it was odd for all the things the FDA is involved in, you hardly ever hear of them holding a recruit drive. Seems like a lot of things to juggle for one entity.

 

[rsacks]

"The FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, our nation?s food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation.
The FDA is also responsible for advancing the public health by helping to speed innovations that make medicines and foods more effective, safer, and more affordable; and helping the public get the accurate, science-based information they need to use medicines and foods to improve their health."

Taken directly from the FDA website.

The part you heard about them regulating dead bodies probably comes from the fact that they over see biological products which may refer to organs that are donated. Of course this is all speculation on my part.