Senate Passes Major Food Safety Bill

In the wake of increasing outbreaks of food-borne illnesses, the US Senate approved a major piece of legislation today that expands the power of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure the safety of our nation’s food supply. The bill passed by a vote of 73-25.

The bill gives the FDA authority to recall contaminated foods (currently done on a voluntary basis), enables the FDA to set standards for produce quality, increases inspections at food processing facilities, increases traceability of high-risk foods and increases FDA funding.

It exempts farmers who sell less than $500,000 worth of food each year to customers within 275 miles, but advocates for small farmers still fear they will be driven out of business by new regulations.

The bill now heads to the House for a vote there.

Notably missing are any quality of life improvements for the millions of animals that often live in shocking squalor on our nation’s factory farms.

Tagged contaminated foods, FDA, Food and Drug Administration, food safety bill, high-risk foods, small farmers