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Food Or Drugs Make You Sick? Here's Who To Contact How To Report A Bad Food Or Drug
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Published: June 21, 2008
Here we go again: Yet another scare over contaminated produce.
I noticed the latest food recall during a quick jaunt to the supermarket. I was shocked to see nearly all the fresh tomatoes were gone. At first, I thought there was an outrageous sale. But it only took a few seconds to remember last year's nationwide fresh spinach recall and the barren shelves it left behind.
I know the whole process of food and drug recalls starts with a person getting sick - or worse, dying. But I've always wondered what I would need to do if the suspected contamination affected me or a loved one.
How exactly do you report a villainous food or drug to the feds?
The Food and Drug Administration says there are two routes you can use to file a complaint:
•Consumer Complaint Reporting - Complaint coordinators based in regional offices document complaints on food-related illnesses; allergic reactions when a person has a known allergy to a food ingredient not identified on the product label; infant formula or baby food; swollen or leaking canned goods; suspected product tampering; dietary supplements, prescription or over-the-counter medications; or pet food and treats. Florida residents can call 1-866-337-6272.
An immediate investigation takes place if there's a reported personal illness or injury that might be caused by a regulated product. For example, it took only two complaints to spur an investigation and recall about a heat-generating adhesive patch, says Joan Trankle, the FDA's national consumer complaint coordinator.
Less serious complaints are monitored, and a future inspection takes place.
•MedWatch Reporting - Use this system when reporting adverse or unexpected side effects for health care products such as prescription and over-the-counter drugs; medical devices; blood products; human cell and tissue products (except vaccines); and special nutritional products including dietary supplements, infant formulas and medical foods.
"Sometimes there are risks that only come to light after a medical product gets on the market and is used in a larger number of patients, for a longer period of time, and in patients whose health characteristics are different from those of the patients studied before approval," reports Norman Marks, medical director of FDA's MedWatch Program.
The confidential MedWatch reports are recorded in an FDA database for comparison to other reports. The FDA prefers that reports are completed with the assistance of a health care professional, who has access to test results and other clinical information. If that's not possible, consumers can report online at www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm or by phone at 1-800-FDA-1088, weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. A hard-copy form (FDA Form 3500) can be retrieved at www.fda.gov/medwatch/getforms.htm or 1-800-FDA-1088. It can be sent via fax to 1-800-FDA-0178.
Granted, I'm a little skeptical of the speed of anything involving federal bureaucracy, but it does seem the FDA does take these complaints seriously. I just hope I'll never have to use it.
Want to share your health and fitness idea? Contact me at (813) 259-7365 or mshedden@tampatrib.com.
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