Obama to Give FDA Power to Order Recalls

Marking another legislative victory for himself and also American consumers, President Obama this week will sign the first major reform of food safety laws since the 1930s, rolling out a battle plan that gives the Food and Drug Administration authority to order recalls of tainted products and add 2,000 federal inspectors to its force.

 

The much-debated measure passed the House 215-144 Tuesday after clearing the Senate by unanimous voice vote the day before. Congress acted after a series of tainted food scares in recent years, including an outbreak of salmonella that led to the recall of more than half a billion eggs.

 

The overhaul will affect all whole and processed foods, except for meat, poultry and some egg products that are already regulated by the Department of Agriculture. In addition to beefing up inspections, the new law mandates that the nation's 150,000 food processors must have a disease prevention plan that can be reviewed by government inspectors. All food shipped into the country from overseas will have to meet U.S. food safety standards, and federal inspectors will be empowered to travel to other countries to check out food processing plants that ship food to the United States.