Concerned about food and drug safety now? Look back aways . . .

While critics often rail about government regulation, laws providing for the safety of our food, drugs, cosmetics and medical devices followed public uproar in response to exposes and tragedies. Americans demanded more regulation, not less.

by Janet Golden, professor of history, Rutgers University-Camden

Published Oct. 21, 2013, 6:30 a.m. ET

While critics often rail about big government regulation, the fact is that laws providing for the safety of our food, drugs, cosmetics and medical devices resulted from public uproar following exposes and tragedies. Over the past century, Americans have demanded more regulation, not less. And the result has been to make us safer and healthier.

Before you swallow your next pill, take a bite of your lunch, put new batteries in your hearing aid, or paint your face for a night on the town, stop and think about what those activities would mean without the public health work of the FDA and other federal agencies. But don't relax too much. The federal budget sequestration is still in effect and this means the FDA has to cut back on its work and Congress has yet to agree on a longterm budget. It's enough to make you reach for some (federally regulated) anti-nausea medication.

» READ MORE: Janet Golden

, a Rutgers University history professor, specializes in the histories of medicine, childhood and women.