Quackwatch Home Page Most people overestimate the extent to
which laws can protect our society against quackery and health
frauds. The amount of wrongdoing in our society vastly exceeds
the resources of our law enforcement agencies and courts. The
FDA oversees the safety, effectiveness, and marketing of foods,
drugs, cosmetics, and medical devices. It operates under
powerful laws but lacks sufficient resources to handle the
enormous number of violations it encounters. In addition, a
recent campaign by the health-food industry and its allies has
decreased the agency's ability to regulate claims for dietary
supplements and herbs. The FDA's roots date back to the turn of
this century, when consumers needed all the protection they
could get. Patent medicines, which were worthless but not always
harmless, were widely promoted with cure-all claims. The country
was plagued by unsanitary conditions in meat-packing plants.
Harmful chemicals were being added to foods, and labels rarely
told what their products containe