Washington — The House passed a far-reaching food safety bill Thursday in the wake of the recent outbreak of salmonella in peanuts that killed at least nine people.
The legislation would require more government inspections and oversight of food manufacturers and give the Food and Drug Administration new authority to order recalls. It also would require the FDA to develop a system for better tracing food-borne illnesses, and the government could impose new penalties on those who violate the law. Food companies would be required to create detailed food safety plans.
President Barack Obama praised the bill soon after it was passed, calling it “a major step forward in modernizing our food safety system.”
The House passed the bill 283-142 a day after rejecting it. Farm-state members had argued that the bill would be too invasive on farms and had pushed colleagues to vote against it as it was considered under a special procedure that requires a two-thirds vote. It was rejected by a few votes.
After the bill failed, Democrats scrambled to put the legislation back on the House floor Thursday under a rule that required a simple majority to pass.
Comments
SettingTheRecordStraight 4 years, 8 months ago
kubacker,
Of course there can be. There can be too much oversight of anything.
kubacker 4 years, 8 months ago
There is nothing more basic to life than food and water, so there can never be too much oversight of the quality and purity of a nation's food supply.
SettingTheRecordStraight 4 years, 8 months ago
If you consider the following six clauses found in this story, you can see why those of us who oppose runaway government regulation are cringing.
"...far-reaching food safety bill..."
"...more government inspections ..."
"...give the Food and Drug Administration new authority..."
"...require the FDA to develop a system..."
"Food companies would be required..."
"...the government could impose new penalties ..."
When considered next to the cannon of existing federal mandates, reasonable citizens are quickly becoming appalled at the size and reach of Big Brother Government.
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