The new US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Margaret Hamburg made a pledge on Thursday, August 6, to be more vigilant in the coming years and crack down on companies that are not following safety regulations.

The FDA has been blamed for a number of health hazards in recent years, such as tainted peanut butter and dangerous blood thinners - products that the FDA oversees. While the FDA under the Bush administration often stressed the importance of bringing new drugs onto the market and working as partners with drug manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies, The new leadership at the FDA wants to put safety first and reestablish the government agency's credibility.

Recent recalls and recommendations involving Zicam, body-building supplements, and fake swine flu remedies reflect the FDA's new dedication to coming down hard on companies producing dangerous or faulty drugs and remedies.