FDA returning to pre-DSHEA diaspora, claims industry veteran

Taylor, a food safety expert and research professor at George Washington University, was this week named advisor to the FDA Commissioner.

He is returning to the regulatory agency over 15 years after serving as FDA’s Deputy Commissioner for Policy. However, according to Loren Israelsen, executive director of United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA), Taylor’s first stint at FDA left some telling signs that he is not overly friendly to the supplements industry.

History​

​

“Mr Taylor now has the toughest job at FDA: [to] bring order and public confidence to food safety (…) As it turns out Mr Taylor also has a long history (not a good one) with the US Dietary Supplement industry,”​ he said.

Israelsen said he and the UNPA counsel had met with Taylor in 1992, while he was serving as Deputy Commissioner. The aim of the meeting was to “plead with him that FDA change its enforcement practices and attitude toward dietary supplements.”​

​

“The meeting did not go well. His direct quote was: ‘If you don't like the law, go change it.’ So, we did,”​ said Israelsen, referring to the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA), which he had been closely involved with.

According to Israelsen, Taylor’s return to FDA would “nearly complete the return of the pre-DSHEA FDA diaspora”. ​

​

“It also signals the return of some tough experience and very anti-DSHEA leaders at FDA,”​ he said.

Prevention based strategy​

As senior advisor to the commissioner, Taylor will work closely with Commissioner Hamburg to:

• Assess current food program challenges and opportunities
• Identify capacity needs and regulatory priorities
• Develop plans for allocating fiscal year 2010 resources
• Develop the FDA’s budget request for fiscal year 2011
• Plan implementation of new food safety legislation.

According to Commissioner Hamburg, Taylor’s “expertise and leadership on food safety issues will help the agency to develop and implement the prevention based strategy we need to ensure the safety of the food we eat.”​

​

Israelsen said he hoped FDA would be able to build on what has been learned during and since DSHEA.

“It is my hope that all sides will look forward, not backward, to meet the challenges of advancing safety, science and quality for dietary supplements,” ​he said.