President Obama to sign bill to improve nation's food safety

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110104/ap_on_re_us/us_obama_food_safety

When salmonella-laced peanut products sickened hundreds during a recent scare, President Barack Obama said consumers should be able to have confidence that their government will keep peanut butter-eating children safe — and that included his daughter Sasha.

"That's what Sasha eats for lunch probably three times a week," Obama said then. "And you know, I don't want to have to worry about whether she's going to get sick as a consequence to having her lunch."

On Tuesday, Obama is getting a chance to allay people's fears about the safety of their food. He is set to sign a $1.4 billion overhaul of the food safety system, giving Washington new power to increase inspections at food processing facilities and force companies to recall tainted products.

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"It will bring our food safety system into the 21st century, improving health, saving lives and helping Americans feel confident that when they sit down at their dinner table they won't end up in the hospital," Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told reporters Monday during a conference call.

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