Dr. David Kessler headed up the FDA from 1990-1997, where he fought for better food labels. He also was largely responsible for putting the tobacco companies under federal regulation. He also fought for better food labeling, specifically targeting the word "fresh." His latest book is The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite.
Dr. Kessler, MD is currently Professor of Pediatrics and Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco.
Congress just passed an extensive food safety bill giving the FDA the authority to issue recalls. The FDA has also been charged with developing a better system to trace food borne illnesses. Read the full text of H.R. 2749, the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009.