FDA Transparency Blog

On August 14, Afia Asamoah, coordinator of the agency's transparency initiative, spoke to the Risk Communication Advisory Committee (RCAC) on behalf of the Transparency Task Force. The task force asked the RCAC for thoughts about how the agency can best communicate information to the public about different types of product recalls. The RCAC shared their thoughts about: (1) when the agency should communicate to the public about a product recall, (2) what the agency should say about the recall, and (3) how the agency should communicate to different stakeholders–patients, consumers, healthcare professionals, industry, and others–about a product recall. The RCAC also provided ideas about the importance of tracking whether the agency is doing a good job communicating to the public about product recalls.

We want to know what you think so we are asking you the same question we asked the RCAC. The question we asked the RCAC, and are asking you is:

Some risks require FDA monitoring and action but are not serious public health hazards.  How can we communicate about them effectively and transparently, and avoid causing unnecessary alarm?

We look forward to your participation.

Erik P. Mettler, MPA, MPH

FDA Transparency Blog Managing Director