Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938
The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938 greatly increased both the FDA’s regulatory power and the scope of its attentions. The law expanded the agency’s focus beyond fraud to encompass safety as well. Most importantly, the 1938 act was the first law to require the testing of drugs before they were sent to market. It also banned drugs that didn’t list all their active ingredients. The Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act expanded the FDA’s authority to cover all medical devices and all cosmetics (with the exception of soap), and provided stronger regulation over deceptive packaging for food containers.
Commentary
Cry Wolf Quotes
You are about to lose a substantial amount of advertising revenue from food, cosmetic and drug manufacturers…You need to bring all the personal pressure you can upon your Senators and Representatives. You need to enlighten and thereby arouse your public against this bill that is calculated to greatly restrict personal rights….We would be only one of the many drug, cosmetic, and food advertisers who will be forced to liquidate in this manner.
The enactment of this legislation will mean a complete readjustment, if indeed the business of manufacturing and selling packaged medicines can be continued at all. This is very doubtful.
While both we and our clients are in entire sympathy with the aims and purposes of the Tugwell Bill, we are all of one mind in our fears about such a sweeping grant of autocratic power being placed in the hands of any bureau or department of government.
[The bill] will seriously affect employment and morale in the industries indicated. It will put thousands of men and women out of work. It will close dozens of manufacturing plants and hundreds of stores...It will hurt thousands...It will help none...When the ‘Tugwell’ Bill is introduced in Congress, it must be defeated.
