Obama Signs Food Safety Bill

Yesterday, President Barack Obama signed the largest overhaul of the nation’s food safety system since 1938. Under the legislation, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will establish science-based standards for the harvesting, production, and transportation of produce, requiring oversight of both manufacturing and natural dangers such as contaminated water and animal waste. The FDA will also have increased power over inspections, including the ability to order food recalls. “This law helps us take the critical steps toward strengthening the food safety system that is vital to the health and security of the American people,” says FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg.