food and drug administration

As the crisis at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant continues, some worry that radiation from the damaged reactors will reach U.S. shores. Dr. Edward Maher, president of the Health Physics Society, and an environmental science expert at Harvard, explains why we should breathe easy.

Americans' zest for a bargain has an economic downside: It creates a giant opportunity for the scads of shady operators -- especially from China -- that specialize in pumping out counterfeit versions of the real thing. From footwear to toys, here are the 10 most counterfeited goods in the U.S. Can you spot the real from the fake?

The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved the first new drug to treat lupus in 56 years. It's not terribly effective: It only worked for 35% of the patients tested. But experts say the approval could prompt the development of more effective drugs.

Johnson & Johnson has issued another recall, and this time, it's not over a typo. The company's Animas unit recalled five lots of leaking insulin cartridges whose use could lead to serious health problems. The 2-milliliter cartridges can leak, resulting in the delivery of less insulin than intended.

Japan's health ministry says it's continuing its suspension of pediatric vaccines made by Pfizer and Sanofi-Aventis, despite finding no connection between the vaccines and the deaths of four children. Both drugmakers are cooperating with the government and expect to be cleared.

The odds of shepherding a new drug to market in recent years has fallen to nearly one in 10 -- about half of the previous rate, according to a new study released this week. First, a new treatment must survive several layers of clinical studies -- and then the FDA approval process. That trip is getting tougher.

Health care providers have been reporting unprecedented shortages of prescription drugs, including vital medications such as chemotherapies and antibiotics. Under current law, the FDA has no power to act, so two senators have introduced a bill to help government get a handle on the problem.

In a surprise move Tuesday, the FDA rejected Orexigen's proposed new diet drug Contrave, saying the company needed to run another study of its cardiovascular risks. With this rejection, all three of a slate of similar diet drugs from competing pharmaceuticals have been turned back by the agency.

Could caffeinated alcoholic drinks, which the FDA deemed unsafe for human consumption in November, turn out to be good for cars? A Virginia-based ethanol recycler, MXI Environmental Services, is turning those soon-to-be-banned beverages into fuel.

Keeping track of the latest product and food recalls can be a challenge, so Consumer Ally has collected them in one place for you to check each week. Here is this week's roundup of recalls: Whole Foods Market recalled 61 store brand baked goods and prepared foods products after a supplier was...