The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the United States government agency charged with overseeing the safety of food, pharmaceuticals, medical products and devices, cosmetics, and veterinary products in the United States. On March 14, 2009, President Obama announced that Margaret Hamburg would be the new head of the FDA, and Dr. Joshua Sharfstein as the Principal Deputy Commissioner.ABC News: Obama Taps Ex-NYC Health Commissioner to Lead FDA (March 14, 2009)

On September 15, 2009, the FDA approved the H1N1 flu vaccine.http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/chronrx/detail?&entry_id=47690

1. Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research
2. Center for Devices and Radiological Health
3. Center for Drug Evaluation and Research
4. Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
5. Center for Veterinary Medicine
6. National Center for Toxicological Research
7. Office of the Commissioner
8. Office of Criminal Investigations
9. Office of Regulatory Affairs

1. 1906: Theodore Roosevelt signs the Food and Drug Act
2. 1927: Food, Drug and Insecticide Organization formed
3. 1930: Name changed to Food and Drug Administration
4. 1938: Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
5. 1980s: FDA expands drug pre-approval for certain patients during the AIDS outbreak

On March 14, 2009, President Obama announced that Margaret Hamburg would be the new head of the FDA, and Dr. Joshua Sharfstein as the Principal Deputy Commissioner. He also announced major changes, reorganizing the agency. Amongst his new efforts include the formation of the Food Safety Working Group, which will alert him on laws and regulations that need to be changed, make sure laws are enforced, and coordinate across all federal agencies.ABC News: Obama Taps Ex-NYC Health Commissioner to Lead FDA (March 14, 2009)

Several peanut butter products were recalled in January 2009 after an outbreak of salmonella was thought to be linked to peanut butter. The outbreak was eventually linked to peanut butter manufactured by the Peanut Corporation of America, a company that sells peanut butter directly to other companies rather than individual customers.

The FDA, together with the Department of Justice, launched a criminal investigation into Peanut Corporation of America after it was found that the company knowingly shipped and sold peanut butter contaminated with salmonella in 2007 and 2008.Washington Post: PB-Salmonella Sandwich Update (February 2, 2009)

On February 2, 2009, President Barack Obama announced he is ordering a review of the FDA because it did not detect the shipments.msnbc: Obama to order full review of FDA operations (February 2, 2009)