The main sticking-point had been the refusal of America's Food and Drug Administration to forgo its right to approve all products sold in the United States.

ECONOMIST: Europe and America

The Trussell Trust reckons 43% of all those referred to the food bank are there because of benefit stoppage or the refusal of a crisis loan.

BBC: The growing demand for food banks in breadline Britain

Equally impressive was the refusal of Frances Kelsey, who was responsible for vetting thalidomide at America's Food and Drug Administration, to bend to corporate pressure and approve the drug for general use.

ECONOMIST: Thalidomide