Celebrating Earth Day, the FDA Drags Its Feet and Health Scares Debunked
CEI releases a new video titled “Humans Make Earth Day Better.”
Promising anti-cancer drug Provenge languishes in the federal approval process despite mounting evidence of safety and effectiveness.
A new report claims that there are dangerous chemicals leaching from the packaging of widely sold food products.
For more news, listen to the LibertyWeek podcast here.
1. ENVIRONMENT
The Competitive Enterprise Institute releases a new video titled “Humans Make Earth Day Better.”
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Director of New Media Richard Morrison on why thinking about the earth shouldn’t mean forgetting about people:
“From pesticides that have saved millions from dying of malaria to genetically modified foods that have saved millions from dying of starvation, the video reminds us that when we worry about environmental issues, we shouldn’t forget the disastrous effects of banning useful technologies.”
2. HEALTH
Promising anti-cancer drug Provenge languishes in the federal approval process despite mounting evidence of safety and effectiveness.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Senior Fellow Gregory Conko on the human costs of the FDA’s inaction:
“This is good news, but there was sufficient information available for FDA to have approved Provenge nearly two years ago. The agency forced drug maker Dendreon to spend the last two years performing additional tests, when its own independent advisory committee voted 17 to 0 that Provenge was safe and 13 to 4 that it was effective enough for approval. This has needlessly forced tens of thousands of prostate cancer sufferers to miss what might have been their only chance at survival.”
3. SCIENCE
A new report claims that there are dangerous chemicals leaching from the packaging of widely sold food products.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Director of Risk & Environmental Policy Angela Logomasini on the enviro-scare artists:
“According to a new report released by enviro-scare artists at the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, most food packaging still contains the chemical Bisphenol A (BPA). That is supposed to scare you, but I say, who cares? It’s there because it’s useful. BPA is one substance has proven very helpful in maintaining the integrity of the products it packages and there is scant evidence of anyone ever having a problem. The idea that food companies want to slowly poison their customers and that the Food and Drug Administration supports that strategy by issuing reports on BPA safety should be quickly dismissed as silly. But the green groups continue to make this case.”
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