Smells like regulation

Meredith Shores
Zach Ogaz

This week the FDA released a statement warning consumers about the possible loss of smell associated with using the nasal decongestant Zicam. Zicam is produced by the company Matrixx Initiatives, which also produces several other cold remedy medications. Zicam is a homeopathic cold remedy, meaning that it is taken in such minute doses that it presents no immediate danger to the general public or harmful side effects if the correct amount is taken. Because of this, one does not need a prescription and can simply buy it over the counter. There are no federal regulations requiring homeopathic cold remedies to meet certain standards and there are no federally mandated tests that must be performed before a product is mass produced and put on stores’ shelves.
However, due to the current situation, the FDA may find itself creating new regulations for over the counter medications that require firms to conduct extensive tests and present these results to the government before the product is mass marketed. This would unfortunately represent a large increase in the costs facing firms in this market, which would therefore raise the cost of their products. Then again, if these new regulations could help ensure the safety of all consumers, then it is of paramount importance that they are passed.