the FDA doesn't assure quality.
the real purpose of the FDA was to set guidelines that minimize breakouts of diseases in food and drug plants. the purpose was to ensure food SAFETY, not FOOD QUALITY.
the FDA is the ONLY resource the people have for when Taco Bell uses shredded rubber, synthetic soy, and other materials and promotes it as beef. it's not the purpose of the FDA and you can tell. 50% meat content qualifies as Beef. WTF?????
the FDA is the only resource ppl have when E-coli breaksout in a crop of tomatoes....
why would the FDA be necessary?? i mean there's only been like a handful of deaths due to poor enforcement.... i don't know those fools who died, why should it affect me??? getting close rob???
But it is a mistake to assume that "regulation" necessarily involves the government.
Much regulation in the American economy is private, produced and enforced by independent parties or trade associations. These private organizations can oversee market participants actions by different processes, such as standard setting, certification, monitoring, brand approval, warranties, product evaluations, and arbitration. Private regulation works, and it deserves closer attention.
First, private regulation is effective. Even though compliance with private regulation is voluntary, market participants frequently choose to comply without any statutory mandates or government orders. In fact, firms perceive the compliance costs of private regulation as a necessity for survival in the marketplace rather than as a burden. Take the example of product safety. Today, it is almost impossible for a producer of electric appliances and equipment to claim that its products are safe without the approval of Underwriters Laboratories (UL), an independent third party. Retailers, customers, and even insurance agencies look for UL approval. UL enforces high standards for product safety without government regulation, benefiting both producers and consumers. Private regulation also has effective enforcement mechanisms. Independent third parties use legally enforceable contracts; sanctions including revoking of approvals, fines, and pulling products off the market; and public announcements. Companies that seek third-party approval also put their reputation--one of their most valuable assets--on the line. Independent third parties are flexible and responsive. They are open to suggestions by industry members, consumers and consumer groups, academic institutions like universities or other scientific organizations, and even government agencies. As a result of that dynamic relationship, independent third parties closely follow changes and technological advancements to preserve their expert status. They continuously revise their standards or certification procedures.
Private regulation by independent parties also costs less. As opposed to federal regulatory agencies, which are run on tax dollars, independent third parties finance their organizations by collecting from the businesses they regulate. Since the price of privately regulated goods reflects the full cost of regulation, independent third parties are very sensitive to the burdens they impose on businesses and consumers. They minimize the costs of running their organizations, and they decrease the costs of their regulatory activities by outsourcing various phases of the regulatory process, like product testing and evaluation. For example, the Green Seal, an independent organization that certifies "environmentally sound" products, uses the Underwriters Laboratories for product testing.