The excerpt below was produced in 2013 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which regulates and monitors food, medici
ne, and other products in the United States. Which of the following statements is an objective summary of the excerpt? Global production of FDA-regulated products has quadrupled over the last decade and continues to grow. Today, FDA-regulated products originate from more than 150 countries, 130,000 importers and 300,000 foreign facilities. Fifty percent of fresh fruits, 20 percent of vegetables, and 80 percent of seafood consumed in America comes from abroad. Similarly, 40 percent of finished drugs come from overseas, and 80 percent of active ingredients manufacturers are located outside the US. Further, half of all medical devices are imported. The growth in imports has been rapid and promises to accelerate.1 A. It is impossible for the FDA to effectively monitor the huge amount of food Americans import each year. B. The FDA is doing an excellent job of regulating America's imported meat, produce, and medicine. C. Many Americans decide to import drugs from overseas because they are cheaper than in the U.S. D. A large percentage of the food and medicine Americans consume comes from foreign countries.
The correct answer is the following: <em>option D. An objective summary of the excerpt provided in the question is to say that a large percentage of the food and medicine Americans consume comes from foreign countries.</em>
The excerpt provides information about the percentage of different products that are imported into the United States every year. Option D is the most accurate summary of the excerpt, as it is the only objective summary from all the options available. The excerpt is not judging the work done by the FDA, if it has been done properly or not, but it is just stating the amount of imported products that the agency has monitored.
