House OKs first major food-safety reforms in 70 years

WASHINGTON — The House approved the first major changes to food-safety laws in 70 years Thursday, giving new authority to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate the way food is grown, harvested and processed.

The action follows a wave of food-borne illnesses in the past two years, involving products as varied as spinach and cookie dough. Food illnesses sicken one in four Americans and kill 5,000 each year, according to government statistics.

The House passed the measure, 283-142, a day after rejecting it under a special procedure that requires a two-thirds vote. After that failed, Democrats scrambled to put the legislation back on the House floor Thursday under a rule that required a simple majority to pass.

In the Washington delegation, Republican Dave Reichert joined Democrats in voting for the legislation; Republicans Doc Hastings and Cathy McMorris Rodgers voted against it.

The Senate is expected to take up its version after the August recess.

The House would place significant new responsibilities on farmers and food processors to prevent contamination before it occurs, a departure from the tradition that has relied on government inspectors to catch tainted food after the fact.

Key provisions of the measure include:

Inspections: FDA inspections of food facilities would increase from about once every 10 years to at least annually for high-risk facilities and at least once every three years for facilities deemed a low risk.

Registration: Food processors, importers and other food handlers must register annually with the FDA and pay a yearly fee of $500 per food facility.

Recalls: The FDA could mandate the recall of tainted foods, instead of relying on food makers to recall voluntarily.

Safe practices: For the first time, the FDA would be able to set standards for safe production of food on farms and require food manufacturers meet safety standards.

Traceability: The secretary of Health and Human Services would be required to identify technology that can be used by food growers, manufacturers and distributors to determine the origin of food and its movement in the supply chain.

Material from The Associated Press is included in this report.