Circle the one item in each of the following groups that is not under the jurisdiction of the Food and Drug Administration. Answers follow.

Question l:
a. Spam
b. puppy food
c. chocolate-covered cherries
d. frozen spinach
e. imported caviar

Question 2:
a. aspirin
b. anti-lice shampoo
c. insect repellent
d. eye shadow
e. lipstick

Question 3:
a. pesticide residues in lettuce
b. canned tomatoes
c. oven cleaner
d. spaghetti
e. pet turtles

Question 4:
a. airport security x-ray machines
b. laser products used in lumber mills
c. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) diagnostic equipment
d. smoke detectors
e. microwave ovens

Question 5:
a. TV sets
b. over-the-counter antacid
c. TV ads for aspirin
d. diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus vaccine
e. human plasma

Question 6:
a. baby pacifiers
b. baby bottle nipples
c. ceramic ware for food use
d. coffee mugs
e. eye chart

Question 7:
a. illegal heroin use
b. veterinary tetracycline
c. barbiturates
d. medicinal oxygen
e. methadone

Question 8:
a. kidney dialysis machine
b. tongue depressor
c. toothpaste
d. fluoridated toothpaste
e. hair dryer

Question 9:
. a. label on beer
b. ground coffee
c. coffee beans
d. rabbit meat
e. canned tuna

Question 10:
a. home canning equipment
b. food warehouse
c. drug warehouse
d. hearing aid dispenser (retailer)
e. exporting of drugs

Question 11:
a. Halloween make-up
b. theatrical make-up
c. soap
d. eye mascara
e. nail polish

Question 12:
a. vaccine for horses
b. penicillin for horses
c. medicated feed for hogs
d. pet parrots
e. bird feed

Question 13:
a. tap water
b. club soda
c. bottled mineral water
d. ginger ale
e. bottled water for water cooler

Question 14:
a. tamper-resistant packaging for over-the-counter (OTC) drugs
b. child-proof packaging for OTC drugs
c. plastic containers for soft drinks
d. valentine heart containing chocolates
e. a tube containing medical ointment

Question 15:
a. grooming cream for dogs
b. artificial limb for dogs
c. laser scanner at supermarket checkout
d. mercury vapor lamps
e. vitamin C tablets

Quiz Answers and Explanations
1. Answer a: Spam is a meat product. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is responsible for regulating meat (and poultry) products.

Caviar, and all seafood and seafood products, whether imported or domestically produced, are regulated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) as a food. So, too, are the other choices.

2. Answer c: Insect repellents are regulated as pesticides by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Both aspirin and shampoos that get rid of lice are drugs; eye shadow and lipstick are cosmetics; all are regulated by FDA.

3. Answer c: Oven cleaners are regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Canned tomatoes and spaghetti are regulated as foods by FDA. Tolerances for pesticide residues in foods are established by EPA, but FDA is responsible for ensuring that these tolerances are not exceeded on foods (except for meat, poultry and certain egg products, which are under USDA’s jurisdiction). A tolerance level is the maximum amount of a pesticide residue permitted in or on a food. FDA enforces a ban on the sale and distribution of turtles less than 4 inches long, the size most often sold as pets. Pet turtles frequently carry Salmonella bacteria, which may cause severe diarrhea in children and adults. Baby turtles were sold as pets in the United States until 1975, when the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention determined that the bacterial contamination could not be prevented by any known treatment.

4. Answer d: Smoke detectors–both photoelectric and ionization chamber types–are regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The radioactive source used in the ionization chamber detector is naturally occurring, not electronic and, therefore, is not a substance that would be regulated by FDA. (The level of radiation exposure to home occupants from ionization chamber detectors is much less than that received from the low level of natural background radiation.)

Under the FD&C Act, FDA is responsible for protecting consumers from unnecessary exposure to radiation emitted from electronic products. (These provisions were originally separate from the FD&C Act and were referred to as the Radiation Control for Health and Safety Act. They were later incorporated into the FD&C Act when the Safe Medical Devices Act of 1990 was enacted). Airport security x-ray machines and microwave ovens must be properly shielded so that the radiation generated by these products (x-radiation and microwave radiation, respectively) does not harm anyone. MRI diagnostic equipment is regulated as a medical device under the FD&C Act. It is also subject to enforcement as an electronic product emitting radiation because it uses radio waves and a strong magnetic field to produce its images. Laser products used in lumber mills must conform to an FDA standard that ensures their safety. This standard applies to all laser products, whether medical, industrial or consumer.

5. Answer c: The only advertisements over which FDA has direct jurisdiction are those for prescription drugs. FTC oversees advertising for other FDA-regulated products.

TV sets are regulated under the radiological health provisions of the FD&C Act. All televisions must comply with a performance standard that ensures their safety. This standard also applies to video display terminals used with computers. Over-the-counter and prescription drugs, as well as human biological products (such as vaccines and blood products), are regulated by FDA.

6. Answer a: Baby pacifiers are regulated by CPSC unless they are marketed with health claims, in which case they are under FDA’s jurisdiction.

Food-contact articles, including baby bottle nipples, ceramic ware intended for food use, and coffee mugs, are regulated by FDA. So are eye charts, which, as diagnostic products, are considered to be medical devices.

7. Answer a: Illegal use of heroin is the responsibility of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the key federal agency that polices illicit, or “street,” drugs. (If heroin were being studied for medical uses, FDA would regulate it as an investigational drug.)

Barbiturates are subject to abuse and thus may, potentially, wind up on the “street,” bringing them under DEA’s purview. However, barbiturates have legitimate medical uses, and FDA is responsible for ensuring they are properly manufactured and labeled. FDA regulates methadone as a drug, and methadone maintenance treatment programs are monitored under regulations promulgated by both FDA and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Medicinal oxygen is regulated by FDA as a drug. Animal drugs, including veterinary tetracycline, are regulated by FDA.

8. Answer e: Hair dryers are regulated by CPSC.

Kidney dialysis machines and tongue depressors, as different as they are in complexity, are both considered to be medical devices. FDA regulates non-fluoridated toothpastes as cosmetics, and fluoridated toothpastes as drugs.

9. Answer a: Labels on beer and other malt beverages, distilled spirits (liquors), and wines are regulated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms under the Federal Alcohol Administration Act.

Ground coffee, coffee beans, rabbit meat, and canned tuna are all regulated by FDA as foods. (The Federal Meat Inspection Act, which gives USDA authority over meat products, covers cattle, sheep, swine, goats, and horses. Other meat products, including game meats such as rabbit, are regulated by FDA.)

10. Answer a: Home canning equipment, under a memorandum of understanding between FDA and CPSC, is regulated by CPSC.

FDA’s jurisdiction includes the facilities where the products it regulates are stored, such as food and drug warehouses. Hearing aid dispensing establishments are bound by specific FDA regulations that impose conditions for the sale of hearing aids. The regulations attempt to prevent misrepresentation and ensure adherence to proper medical standards. Regarding exporting drugs, FDA continues to have authority over its regulated products even when they are exported.

11. Answer c: The FD&C Act specifically excludes soap from its definition of cosmetics. CPSC regulates this product.

All of the other choices are defined as cosmetics and, therefore, are regulated by FDA.

12. Answer a: A vaccine for horses is a veterinary biological product. FDA does not have jurisdiction over veterinary biologics. The Virus, Serum, and Toxin Act gives this responsibility to USDA.

The FD&C Act gives FDA authority over pet foods and drugs, which would include veterinary penicillin, medicated feeds, and bird feed. The Public Health Service Act confers on FDA the authority to regulate the interstate movement of psittacine birds (parrots, cockatoos, macaws, parakeets, and other birds in the psittacine family). These birds are potential carriers of psittacosis, a disease that can be transmitted to people. Psittacosis, which is also known as parrot fever, can range in severity from a mild respiratory infection to a protracted illness.

13. Answer a: The safety of public drinking water (tap water) is protected by EPA, as decided in an agreement between that agency and FDA.

FDA has jurisdiction over bottled water, which is considered a food under the FD&C Act. The remaining choices are also defined as foods.

14. Answer b: Child-proof packaging authority, addressed under the Poison Prevention Packaging Act, was delegated to CPSC.

Tamper-resistant packaging, which is required for certain OTC drugs, cosmetics, and medical devices, is FDA’s responsibility. Food packaging materials, such as plastic containers and candy boxes, are subject to regulation as food additives under the FD&C Act because of the possibility that they may leach their chemical constituents into the food product. These potential additives are referred to as indirect food additives. A container bearing a drug product is considered to be a component of that drug, and FDA, therefore, requires that it be appropriate for that drug.

15. Answer a: The animal counterpart of a cosmetic is commonly referred to as a “grooming aid.” Cosmetics, as defined in the FD&C Act, apply only to human use. Therefore, products intended for cleansing or promoting attractiveness of animals are not subject to FDA control.

An artificial limb for dogs is regulated as a veterinary medical device. While such products do not require FDA approval, they do come under the purview of the FD&C Act. They may not bear labeling that is false or misleading, nor may they be otherwise misbranded or adulterated. The laser scanner must comply with the standard. Mercury vapor lamps, most often used to light streets, gymnasiums, sports arenas, banks, and stores, must be maintained properly to be safe. With some types of mercury vapor lamps, if the outer envelope is broken and the lamp continues to operate, intense, harmful ultraviolet radiation is emitted. An FDA standard ensures that this lighting is safe. Finally, FDA regulates vitamin C tablets as food supplements.

When choosing cosmetic acne concealers, skin care experts generally recommend the use of makeup that is mineral based, in simple terms this refers to that fact that the ingredients which form the product base are not synthetic and occur naturally on planet as an organic compound.

The main minerals used for cosmetics are usually mica, zinc oxide, and titanium dioxide and these generally form the basis of loose powder makeup foundation, or just foundation, as it is commonly referred to.

One of the reasons mineral makeups are recommended is that, the minerals themselves usually have good opacity, and therefore they do not require any other synthetic chemicals to make them so, in addition several of the compounds used, notably zinc oxide and titanium dioxide may also prevent irritation and inflammation to skin owing to their inherent properties, it should also be noted that these two compounds are generally to be found as
ingredients in sun creams and lotions as when they are applied their high opacity may help shade the skin from harmful UV sun rays.

Mineral based cosmetics are also generally non-comedogenic, meaning that will will not block the pores of the skin and this is very important for the prevention and cure of acne.

Cosmetic manufacturers seeking to cash in on the current trend toward anti-acne products, are now offering some acne concealers as being totally natural or organic, and while this may be true in the majority of cases, they are not officially classified as organic in the US unless they have official USDA certification.

Criteria For Good Acne Concealers

It can be hard to find a really good concealer if you have acne skin, you may to search long and hard to find one suitable for your particular skin type. A good concealer must have the following attributes:

It must not cause any irritation to the skin

It must not block the skins pores

It needs to be as light as possible

It should have high opacity, meaning you will need to use less

It should match as close as possible your natural skin tone

Be aware that some cosmetics sold as being medicated, and thus suitable for acne sufferers, while these products are used with good results for some people, they may contain the compound salicylic acid which is an acne treatment in its own right, this compound can cause irritation to sensitive skin types. Most of the best concealers are not medicated and do not cause any chemical lightening of the skin, the medicated varieties often have a poor texture to them, and can be hard to apply, they may not contain enough pigment therefore requiring more than one application which can lead to a caked appearance, the colors may also be less than ideal making matching more difficult.

Strictly speaking you should only be using a cosmetic concealer to do just that, do not be tempted by trying to use a medicated concealer as an acne treatment alone as you will most likely just be wasting money.

Summary of Products

Find a brand that meets the above criteria and stick with it, you may find that some of the better carry the biggest price tags, but because of their superior covering power you will need to apply a lot less so they will last a lot longer.
Of course there are hundreds of products available from dozens of different makers, but the ones shown here are the products that have the best ratings overall by consumers that have actually used them as researched for this article.

This list is by no means exhaustive. Some of these products may only be available in the US.

Murad Acne Concealer

Black Opal Cover & Clear Acne

CoverGirl & Olay Simply Ageless

Proactiv Solution Concealer Plus

The Body Shop Tea Tree Concealer

Neutrogena On-the-Spot Blemish Wand

Dermalogica MediBac Clearing Spot Treatment

Benefit Cosmetics Boi-ing

Neutrogena Skin Clearing Liquid Makeup

Judith August Everything Pencil

Clinique Acne Clearing

Dermablends Smooth indulgence

Cosmetics have been used for the enhancement of beauty for ages,
and there is no dearth in their demands. Modern men and women use
cosmetics on a regular basis but why do they face skin and/or health
problems? To the best of our knowledge, it was never a part of the lives
of people who lived during ancient times. After centuries of cosmetic
use, it is most interesting that only in recent times have the toxic
ingredients in cosmetic products come under scrutiny. And, the more we
learn about the damages that these toxic ingredients might cause, the
more careful we should be in the type of cosmetic products we purchase
and use on a daily basis.

Now I know you all may think that you
use the best cosmetics available, and you even have chosen the natural
path i.e., your cosmetics contain the necessary vitamins and oils for
your skin and for your general health. Think again, as you may have been
sold a cosmetic product that neither contains natural ingredients nor
does it have the proper organic cosmetic certifications that would
guarantee the products are safe to use daily!

Though a startling
revelation, the truth is that most of the organic cosmetics that are
being sold in the market today are not actually organic. The only way to
judge whether a cosmetic is organic or not is to verify the
certification of the product you are using. Do not be blindfolded while
purchasing cosmetics; as you may be handed a product that is filled with
harsh, toxic chemicals and acids. You are more likely to suffer from
skin ailments with the use of toxic cosmetics than you would be if you
used a pure organic cosmetic. The reason is very simple – there are a
lot of toxic chemicals like mercury, aluminum, coal tar, and lead in the
synthetically produced cosmetics. In packaging and labeling many
companies use type that is so small, you would need a magnifying glass
to read the ingredients and words that are so foreign you would have to
be a scientist to decipher them. For example, what is a Paraben
(preservative) or a Pthalate (fragrance)? You get the idea.

There
is every reason as to check the organic cosmetic certification of the
products that you are purchasing – after all it becomes a question of
your health, general well being, and the condition of your skin that is
at risk. Certification is proof that the products being manufactured are
in strict compliance with the ingredients and processes that have been
accredited, not by the US government because the US government allows
the cosmetic companies to govern themselves, but by the certification
agencies that companies must submit their products to for certification.
The certification standards may vary from one agency to another, but
the standards that are followed by that specific agency are uniform
standards for all countries. The standards that have been set for
providing organic certification are pretty high, and this is the reason
why one can be certain of the quality of the products that come with
certification.

Although the US does provide certification through
the USDA, most US companies are not interested in getting certified, as
using organic products in the manufacturing process is more expensive,
thereby reducing profits. Also, because the Cosmetic Industry is
self-regulated, the cosmetic companies can make organic and/or natural
claims, without certification, and no one will challenge them.
Therefore, companies are more likely to go offshore to Europe, Asia or
Oceania for certification. Agencies like the UK Soil Association, or
Ecocert (France), or BDIH (Germany), are more likely to be used, simply
because these countries demand their products be free of toxic material.
In fact, the European Union has banned well over 1000 chemicals in the
cosmetic manufacturing process, while the good old US of A has banned a
mere 10 chemicals. Again, you get the point.

Manufacturers in the US actually lobby against the
removal of toxic ingredients in the manufacturing process claiming that
these products are safe to use. However, recent clinical studies have
shown that many of these toxins are carcinogens, and linked to cancer.
Many lipsticks still contain lead, a highly toxic ingredient with the
highest hazard risk of 10,. provided by the Cosmetic Database, the
largest cosmetic ingredient database in the world. All the products that
are manufactured in the US do not have to pass any pre-market quality
tests to enter the marketplace. Again, the Cosmetic Industry is
self-regulated and what that means is simply this. If a cosmetic company
deems their products to be safe, they can be marketed. It is that
simple and it should be that scary to all consumers!

Organic
cosmetic certification is the best way available for the consumer to
judge the quality of the cosmetics they use, and it is advisable that
one checks this every time one purchases a cosmetic product. The
certification logos will be prominently placed on each product alongside
other logos like recyclable, or biodegradable, or no animal testing,
etc. You must, however, visually see the logo and not take the
manufacturer’s word that the product is natural or organic. They can and
will put anything they want on the product because no one is watching,
and their ultimate goal is to make the sale. They have no interest in
your health. Therefore, in the end, it is buyer beware! Read the labels
and do the research if you want to be assured of buying safe, healthy,
toxic-free cosmetic products.

Though there are many companies that
want to dupe their customers for revenue and profit purposes, it is
also true that there are many other companies that believe in providing
the best, safest, healthiest personal care products. Most of the
companies that want to provide the best products were all natural from
their inception, and most of the companies that want to dupe their
customers are the large manufacturers that place profits before people
and never have any intention of creating all organic and/or natural
personal care products. This is exactly where organic cosmetic
certification comes into play and should be seriously considered before
purchasing any cosmetic product.