How Much Do You Know About FDA?

Reprinted from FDA Consumer, December 1995

The Food and Drug Administration regulates a large number of consumer products--but not everything! How good are you at distinguishing which products FDA regulates from those it doesn't? Take this quiz--put together by Bernie Janiger of FDA's New York district office--and see.

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

Question l:

1. Spam
2. puppy food
3. chocolate-covered cherries
4. frozen spinach
5. imported caviar

Question 2:

1. aspirin
2. anti-lice shampoo
3. insect repellent
4. eye shadow
5. lipstick

Question 3:

1. pesticide residues in lettuce
2. canned tomatoes
3. oven cleaner
4. spaghetti
5. pet turtles

Question 4:

1. airport security x-ray machines
2. laser products used in lumber mills
3. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) diagnostic equipment
4. smoke detectors
5. microwave ovens

Question 5:

1. TV sets
2. over-the-counter antacid
3. TV ads for aspirin
4. diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus vaccine
5. human plasma

Question 6:

1. baby pacifiers
2. baby bottle nipples
3. ceramic ware for food use
4. coffee mugs
5. eye chart

Question 7:

1. illegal heroin use
2. veterinary tetracycline
3. barbiturates
4. medicinal oxygen
5. methadone

Question 8:

1. kidney dialysis machine
2. tongue depressor
3. toothpaste
4. fluoridated toothpaste
5. hair dryer

Question 9:

1. label on beer
2. ground coffee
3. coffee beans
4. rabbit meat
5. canned tuna

Question 10:

1. home canning equipment
2. food warehouse
3. drug warehouse
4. hearing aid dispenser (retailer)
5. exporting of drugs

Question 11:

1. Halloween make-up
2. theatrical make-up
3. soap
4. eye mascara
5. nail polish

Question 12:

1. vaccine for horses
2. penicillin for horses
3. medicated feed for hogs
4. pet parrots
5. bird feed

Question 13:

1. tap water
2. club soda
3. bottled mineral water
4. ginger ale
5. bottled water for water cooler

Question 14:

1. tamper-resistant packaging for over-the-counter (OTC) drugs
2. child-proof packaging for OTC drugs
3. plastic containers for soft drinks
4. valentine heart containing chocolates
5. a tube containing medical ointment

Question 15:

1. grooming cream for dogs
2. artificial limb for dogs
3. laser scanner at supermarket checkout
4. mercury vapor lamps
5. vitamin C tablets