As the Federal Drug Administration approves a new weight-loss drug for the first time in over a decade, it is questioned whether this approval can be trusted. The introduction of these drugs is due to an overwhelming demand from the USA with over ‘36% of American adults now classified as obese and rising’. With this introduction, consumers reflect back on the rocky past of diet drugs approved by the FDA, which have resulted in negative side effects and serious health risks. As seen with amphetamines in the 1950’s which became highly addictive with critical side effects and Redux in 1996 which were linked to heart valve defects, fatal lung conditions and sudden death.
As a result of this negative past history, the FDA implemented a minimum of five years of pre testing, no cardiovascular risk, constant retesting and monitoring. This demonstrates the importance in responding to negative events in a company’s history and implementing systems to avoid further negative events. This is crucial in organisations such as the FDA in which the consumers need to be able to trust the products provided by them.