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The Senate on Tuesday passed the long-awaited Food Safety Modernization Act by a 73 – 25 vote. The House passed its version of the legislation in 2009. To circumvent the often long reconciliation process, House Democrats are reportedly considering adopting the Senate version in order to ensure it reaches President Obama’s desk for signature before the end of the lame duck session. However on Wednesday a new concern was made public and it seems passage of the bill could stall on a technicality. The Senate version established fees that the House says are defined as taxes. Proposals for new taxes must be initiated by the House, and Majority Leader and Democrat Steny Hoyer must now scramble to find a fix in the 11th hour. If the bill makes it to the President’s desk and is signed into law, it will be the first time since the 1930s that a major update to food safety laws has occurred. The Food Safety Modernization Act would significantly empower the FDA to regulate food production in the US. It would allow the FDA to issue a food recall if the manufacturer refuses to do it voluntarily. Food producers would also be required take pro-active steps to anticipate hazards. Increased funding for inspections of domestic and imported food is also included in both the Senate and House versions. The Environmental Working Group says at least 5,000 Americans die each year from tainted food.

GUEST: Alex Formuzis, Vice President of Media Relations at the Environmental Working Group

Find out more at www.ewg.org and www.makeourfoodsafe.org.