Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY) announced that the Senate HELP Committee has approved President Obama’s nomination of Dr. Margaret A. Hamburg, a former New York City health commissioner, as the next commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. The approval process now moves to the full Senate.
The recent FDA actions against Cheerios (above) and Hydroxycut (the dietary weight loss supplement we reported on last week) provide more evidence of FDA animosity against supplements and scientific openness. Acting commissioner Dr. Joshua Sharfstein is seen by some to be leading these recent actions. Sharfstein is a protégé of Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman, and will likely become deputy commissioner if Hamburg is confirmed.
A general overhaul of the FDA is coming up on Capitol Hill and is likely to be considered along with the new healthcare bill.