It started with a massive butter recall over a simple labeling error. But what does that have to do with the life-saving drugs you might need one day? In this episode, we pull back the curtain on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the powerful and controversial agency that acts as the gatekeeper for everything you consume.

We explore the FDA's paradoxical mission: to be a cautious protector that prevents disasters, but also a speedy facilitator for medical breakthroughs. Is it a global gold standard that saves countless lives, or a slow bureaucracy captured by the very industries it's meant to regulate? We'll uncover the truth about the "drug lag," the influence of Big Pharma's money, and the alarming new threat of political pressure undermining science. When you see "FDA-approved," what does it really mean? Join us as we ask the ultimate question: Is the FDA fit for purpose?