President Bush has announced that he will nominate acting Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Lester Crawford to take over that position on a permanent basis. Crawford has been serving as acting commissioner since March 2004 when he replaced Mark McClellan.

The FDA has come under fire in recent months over drug safety concerns. Critics claim the agency has rushed drugs onto the market before safety tests and side effects could be fully examined. The result is the recall of previously approved drugs which can lead to the death of drug users.

Crawford has a doctorate in pharmacology from the University of Georgia and an expert in food policy. He also has a veterinary degree from Auburn University.

Crawford had served as acting FDA Commissioner from February to November 2002.
The appointment drew praise from Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt. 'Dr. Crawford has dedicated his career to advancing the nation's public health and will lead the way as we enter a new era of individualized medicine and rapidly developing science,' Leavitt said. 'With Dr. Crawford's leadership, FDA will provide the world's safest drugs and empower citizens with the tools they need to make informed choices about their health.'

One new role that Crawford will face is protecting the American food supply from terrorists who may wish to contaminate it. Tommy Thompson, the former Secretary of Health and Human Services indicated he was amazed no terrorist had tried to contaminate the food supply since it was so poorly guarded.

Crawford will have to be confirmed by the Senate prior to assuming the commissionership on a permanent basis.