Final answer:
Redux and Pondimin were recalled for causing serious heart-related problems. This incident underlined the critical role of post-marketing drug surveillance by the FDA and the reliability of pharmaceutical data.
Step-by-step explanation:
The weight loss drugs Redux and Pondimin, also known as fen-phen, were recalled after FDA approval and widespread use because they were found to cause serious heart-related problems, including heart valve defects and pulmonary hypertension, which can be life-threatening.
The recall was a significant event in the history of the FDA as it highlighted the importance of post-marketing surveillance of approved drugs. This incident also raised concerns about the reliability of data submitted by pharmaceutical companies for drug approval, as seen in other cases where manufacturers, such as Vitarine Pharmaceuticals, falsified data to obtain FDA authorization.