we wondered why the f.d.a. ot acting against the many stem cell con artists whose web sites are up for anyone to see. but the f.d.a. commissioner margaret hamburg declined to talk with us on camera about any aspect of stem cell quackery. many experts believe that the f.d.a. is outmatched. >> larry goldstein: patients need to beware. >> pelley: larry goldstein, a prominent stem cell biologist, and researcher doug sipp, are with the international society for stem cell research, an organization of the world's leading stem cell scientists. sipp is tracking bogus stem cell clinics all around the world. how have these operations grown, say, in the last five years or so? >> doug sipp: i would say the growth has been explosive. i've been tracking it closely for the past three years, and i've been able to come up with more than 200 clinics that are offering some version of stem cells for some type of medical condition for which there is really no good evidence that the stems would be either safe or effective. >> pelley:

the f.d.a. s in 2011. this is mainly because the f.d.a. relies on a very weak borderç inspection system. there is also indication thatç there potentially will be more inspectors but we could have fewer inspections. can you tell usç how the f.d.a can improve in this area? there is the f.d.a. food safety bill pending before the congress and the senate. how can that change the equation? and how do we deal with the improving the inspection ratios the next five years? >> congresswoman, first of all thank you for yourç longtime leadership in this area and it is one that has changed dramatically over time. we no longer have an americanç based food system, and iç thin that the regulatory framework has -- is 20th century at best and the systemç is global and increasingly global. have our -- half our fruits an vegetablesç começ outside the borders. about two-thirds of the seafood comes from outside the border just to name a couple of products. no question the new framework paced bush passed by he

one teaspoon is plenty and now as michelle miller reports, a panel of medical experts is urging the f.d.a. to set limits on the amount of salt manufacturers put in our food. >> i love salt. >> it's everything n everything. >> it's addictive. >> reporter: but one of america's favorite ingredients may be regulated like a food additive. >> salt is probably the single most harmful chemical in our food supply. >> reporter: and we're pouring it on in dangerous amounts, says cardiologist dr. holly andersen. >> simply when you absorb extra salt you also absorb extra water and this has to go into the same circulation. so the pressure increases. and that pressure can damage the heart, the brain, and the kidneys. >> reporter: a recent study estimates that up to 150,000 lives could be saved if americans would just cut out about a teaspoon of salt a day. chef bobby flay says a mandatory reduction could be tough to swallow. >> it's going to be hard for me to hold my hand back in the salt bin when i think that it's going to be important to my customers. >> reporter: the fact is, most sodium in our diets

. >> couric: a medical break through, the f.d.a. s on the verge of approving the first therapeutic vaccine for cancer. and reinventing the wheel and a life in steve hartman's "assignment america." captioning sponsored by cbs from cbs news world headquarters in new york, this is the "cbs evening news" with katie couric. >> couric: good evening, everyone. it would be the biggest overhaul of america's financial system since the great depression. the house has already passed it, but it hit a speed bump tonight in the senate where republicans managed to block it, at least temporarily. anat

and the f.d.a. is being urged to regulate it. at many haitians call home three months after the quake. why life could get much worse before it gets better. and lating their fingers do the talking. many teens are now texting more than a hundred times a day. captioning sponsored by cbs from cbs news world headquarters in new york, this is the "cbs evening news" with katie couric. >> couric: good evening, everyone. the ill familiar roar of jet engines was met with applause across northern europe today as flight restrictions were finally eased. all british airports were reopened this weekend, more than five days after that giant plume of volcanic ash from iceland

filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of ambien users, she later agreed to withdraw it only because the f.d.aered stronger warning labels. she is now writing a book about ambien. >> it ruins people's lives. >> took ambien. this is a good one. >> here on youtube, users document ambien tripping. taping their ambien antics, chronic ling bizarre behavior, spoofing the ads. >> if you haven't seen the commercial, look for it? >> sleeping and eating while driving while not fully awake with memory loss for the event. >> sleep, eat, and drive, without remembering you did it. this is something that i have to try. >> in this youtube video, a man seen getting a dui while on ambien. the sleep aid also made tabloid headline linked to heath ledger, tiger woods, and jack. while millions taking ambien without reporting any negative side effects, even the company that makes it says it is not for everyone. a spokesperson for the french drug company that makes ambien says they are committed to patient health and safety and treats these matters with the highest importance. still, they acknowledge that behaviors l

we have worked well together on the f.d.a.. we were happy to have you. i know also i'm devoted to the fact that senator garn, another man of utah once chaired this subcommittee. he was a great friend and a mentor to me when i got started. i want to say he would also like to submit a testimony for someone i would be enthusiastic about welcoming his -- look forward to welcoming him. thank you. he will want to do that. >> and i would welcome that and any conversations with him. >> you have been great and i really appreciate it. thank you so much. >> i'm going to call up administrator bolden to present the administration's testimony. administrator bolden is also general bolden who served in the marine corps. a marine helicopter pilot who went on to be an astronaut in the astronaut hall of fame so we look forward to his testimony. i want to remind member nass we have a two tier hearing. we will also hear from john frost of the aerospace advisory committee and i know that committee's deep commitment. i understand you have a time challenge. i would like for r fo

for the first time in the history of this country, the f.d.a. w controls tobacco, stopping people from being addicted as all my family was when they were teenagers. credit card legislation, we were able to move forward on that and stop many of the abuses of credit card companies. national insurance legislation, something that senator kennedy wanted for 30 years; we were able to pass that. and many other things, mr. president, in spite of the republicans fighting every step of the way. dozens of filibusters. certainly establish themselves as the "party of no." and, of course, we passed health care legislation, one of the most important things ever done in the history of this country. four million small businesses across america, 24,000 of them in nevada, are now eligible for health care. they'll be able to get a 35% subsidy for their health insurance premium, 4 million of them, 25,000 in nevada. children with preexisting disabilities can no longer be denied insurance. we put $5 billion in that program to work with states for people who have preexi

agreement which he honored, which is if the medicines that we sell in 70 countries that serve 2 million of those four million people greg treatment, that if they passed f.d.a. scrutiny, pepfore money could be used. my goal is not to go somewhere where my being there causes problem for american foreign policy, and working with the country on the ground as well as with the host government. if i might, senator, i think the work that bill and i do, and that many others do, is intrinsically good for america's foreign policy. look, it doesn't matter who is the president. you see now president obama being criticized by some of the people who criticized president bush who said he is not as different from president bush as i wanted him to be. doesn't matter who the president is. the interests of the united states and the challenges we face are sufficiently different from orcountries that we are not going to be popular with everyone. we don't want to politicize our work, but we want it to be reinforcing -- reinfortsing of the best of america. when people think you care whether their kids live or die, they get along pretty well. this is not complicated. i believe tha