Voices of FDA Scientists: Measuring Progress on Scientific Integrity

The document reports that while FDA scientists in 2011 expressed increased respect for agency leadership and higher morale compared to 2006, significant concerns remain regarding corporate and political pressure influencing agency decisions. It highlights a broader pattern of scientific interference across multiple US federal agencies and provides specific recommendations for the FDA and Congress to improve transparency, accountability, and the independence of advisory committees.

• Comparing 2011 data to 2006, FDA scientists reported improved morale and a more positive view of agency leadership, believing the agency is moving in the right direction.
• Despite improvements in morale, a concerning number of FDA scientists still report that corporate and political pressures inappropriately influence agency decisions, indicating a need for better transparency and accountability.
• Political and corporate interference in science is not limited to the FDA but is common in regulatory agencies such as the USDA and EPA, manifesting as censorship, suppression of science, or manipulation of scientific advice.
• A 2010 survey of food safety scientists at the FDA and USDA revealed that 27% had experienced instances where businesses withheld food safety information, and 38% agreed that public health was harmed by agency practices that deferred to business interests.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2012). Voices of FDA Scientists: Measuring Progress on Scientific Integrity. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/fda-2011-survey-faq.pdf

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. Voices of FDA Scientists: Measuring Progress on Scientific Integrity. 2012. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/fda-2011-survey-faq.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=Voices of FDA Scientists: Measuring Progress on Scientific Integrity |date=6 March 2012 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/fda-2011-survey-faq.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientists2012voices, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{Voices of FDA Scientists: Measuring Progress on Scientific Integrity}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2012}, month = mar, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/fda-2011-survey-faq.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }