The Food and Drug Administration has played an important role in the American society known today. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration affects every citizen of the United States. Its main objective is to ensure product knowledge and protection for every citizen, ranging from atmospheric hazards to medications and foods consumed in the United States. A strong complement of inspectors is responsible for monitoring trade and safety standards in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Although many tasks performed by the FDA go unnoticed by the average citizen, an absence from the FDA certainly would not go unnoticed. However, the importance of the FDA today is just as important as how it was created. Wallace F. Janssee, a historian of the FDA, in his article "The History of the Laws Behind the Labels", writes about the creation of the agencies that later developed into the FDA. Janssee points out that the earliest forms of FDA began as the Department of Agriculture in 1862. Charles M. Wetherill was the first chemist to serve in the Department of Agriculture. Its main purpose was to test foods, fertilizers, soils and other agricultural substances. Initially his experiments revolved around agricultural research but inevitably became involved in food safety to find adulterated substances. Janssee points out that many of the substances tested were counterfeit drugs, contaminated, diluted and broken down. Eventually, his practice of finding adulterated substances came to light in 1906 under the Food and Drugs Act. The Food and Drug Act of 1906, also known as the Wiley Act, was legislation passed through the efforts of Peter Collier and Dr. Harvey W. Wiley. Peter Collier was the one in the middle of paper......this is his claim with the help of Terri Lewis who is an FDA Physical Science Technician. Lewis said all but 2.5 percent of his office staff are on leave. Lewis is quoted: “Foreign foods are being imported from other countries every day and with far fewer inspectors, it makes the job less safe.” The FDA certainly has the important job of ensuring the availability of safe foods and medications to American citizens. This importance was taken into account by the men who worked to have it enshrined in legislation. The resulting agency continued to implement its policies consistently throughout the modern century, without losing momentum. However, if the FDA is weakened by a government shutdown, then it is of utmost importance to maintain consistency in the food and drug standards it enforces. Standards that are of great importance today such as the FDA initiation standards.