FDA and WebMD

[Guest guest]

FDA targets consumers via WebMD

By Shane Starling, 03-Dec-2008

Related topics: Industry <http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Industry>

The US Food and Drug Administration has teamed up with popular consumer

health news information website, WebMD, to deliver targeted information

about FDA-related matters.

The FDA

<http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/content/search?SearchText=FDA>

said the initiative would allow it to better carry out its " foremost

mission " to promote and protect public health. About 50 million unique

visitors visit WebMD every month.

The result of the deal is a new joint website <http://www.webmd.com/fda>

that provides information about FDA-regulated products including food,

dietary supplements, medicines and cosmetics.

" As a leading brand of health information, we are pleased to be

partnering with the FDA to provide consumers with public health and

safety information, direct from the source, " said WebMD president and

chief executive officer, Wayne Gattinella.

" This important partnership is consistent with WebMD's longstanding

mission of providing for Americans access to credible and relevant

health information. "

Consumers can report any safety concerns they may have about food and

other products directly to the FDA as data is cross-linked back to the

FDA consumer website <http://www.fda.gov/consumer> .

The new joint website informs WebMD readers of FDA public health alerts

along with FDA Consumer Updates that present information in the form of

articles aimed at consumers.

The FDA Consumer Updates will also feature at least three times a year

in WebMD's bi-monthly magazine, distributed to physician office waiting

rooms across the US and reported to reach nine million consumers.

Enthusiastic

The move reflects an FDA policy to employ " innovative, technology-based

strategies " .

" We are enthusiastic about this collaboration with WebMD because it will

enable us to reach more consumers with accurate, science-based

information that can help them improve their health, " said C von

Eschenbach, MD, FDA commissioner of food and drugs.

" This is an important step forward in our effort to form partnerships to

help bring timely safety alerts and other public health information to a

wider audience in the most effective and convenient way. "

Internet savvy

An August study released by the Center for Studying Health System Change

found 32 percent of American consumers - 70 million adults - conducted

online health searches in 2007, compared with 16 percent in 2001.

Consumers who researched health concerns reported positive outcomes, the

study found, and half said the information changed their overall

approach to maintaining their health. Eighty percent said the

information helped them better understand how to treat an illness or

condition.

The FDA's policy on co-branding requires partners to provide FDA with

statistical information at least every two months on the number of users

viewing FDA Consumer Health Information, which the FDA jointly review.

S. Kalman PhD, RD, CCRC, FACN

Miami Research Associates

Director, Nutrition & Applied Clinical Research

6141 Sunset Drive #301

Miami, FL. 33143

(fax)

www.miamiresearch.com <http://www.miamiresearch.com>