FDA commissioner to post weekly column online

ROCKVILLE, Md. The Food and Drug Administration, in an effort to better connect with the consumers the agency is sworn to protect, introduced a new column on its web site called “Andy’s Take,” that will offer an internal glimpse as to the thinking that goes behind the agency’s decision-making through the perspective of FDA commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach.

“As Commissioner, I want to give you my take on some of the events about food and medical products that you have been hearing about in the news,” von Eschenbach wrote in his inaugural column, posted Thursday. “I want to give you the inside story on some of the things that will soon be announced at the FDA so that you have my insights about why these initiatives are of such great importance to protecting and promoting your health.”

The FDA plans to update the column on a weekly basis.