FDA approved the "black-box" warning for antidepressants last Friday. The warning will alert doctors and patients to the increased risk of suicidality for children using antidepressants. The "black-box" warning is the highest level of warning FDA uses. In approving the new labeling, FDA followed the recommendations of both its advisory panel and a congressional committee, both of which called for the "black-box" label. The label comes amidst a controversy as to FDA's role in alerting the public to the dangers of child use of antidepressants.

This story comes packed with just enough irony of its own: Legislation just passed by Congress abolishes the requirement that the government inspect imported tobacco to ensure it is not laced with chemicals and pesticides banned in the United States but permitted elsewhere. That means imported leaf, which U.S. tobacco companies are increasingly relying on, could make cigarettes even more harmful, said Tom Glynn, director of science and trends for the American Cancer Society. --Nancy Zuckerbrod, " U.S. to Quit Inspecting Tobacco for Banned Chemicals and Pesticides," A.P., Oct. 18, 2004.