Transcript: Former FDA commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," July 26, 2026 - CBS News

What the report says

CBS News published a transcript of former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb’s July 26, 2026, appearance on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.” Gottlieb, identified by CBS as a Pfizer and UnitedHealth board member, discussed a multistate cyclospora outbreak tied in large part to produce from central Mexico. He said the situation was not fully controlled, though he credited the FDA with narrowing the likely source to particular farms and a region, while noting Mexican public health authorities deny responsibility.

Gottlieb said consumers could reduce risk by choosing whole heads of lettuce instead of bagged, pre-cut products and by sourcing produce locally where possible. He also said the FDA’s public communication had been less visible than he would expect. Brennan cited CBS polling showing 47% of Americans had little confidence in the FDA’s outbreak response and referenced Wall Street Journal reporting that Taylor Farms contacted the White House seeking a delay in a recall announcement. Gottlieb called White House involvement in such a call unusual, but said he did not think it caused a major delay.

The interview also covered rising measles cases. Brennan said CDC data showed more measles infections in 2026 than in any year in the past 35 years, with 93% of cases among unvaccinated people or those with unknown vaccination status. Gottlieb argued the current administration and HHS Secretary Kennedy were not pursuing measles elimination and warned cases could keep increasing as unvaccinated young children enter group settings.

On compounded peptides, Gottlieb criticized broader access to injectable products such as BPC-157, saying FDA-reviewed evidence did not show proven benefit and that use could carry risk.