Obama signs food safety bill

WASHINGTON - Foreshadowing the coming power struggles between the White House and a more Republican Congress, President Barack Obama on Tuesday signed a $1.4-billion overhaul of the nation's food safety system as some lawmakers complained about the cost.

The first major overhaul of the food safety system since the 1930s, the law emphasizes prevention to help stop deadly outbreaks of foodborne illness before they occur, instead of reacting after consumers become ill.

It calls for increasing government inspections at food processing facilities and, for the first time, gives the Food and Drug Administration the power to order the recall of unsafe foods.

Obama made improving food safety a priority shortly after taking office in 2009. There have been several deadly outbreaks of E. coli and salmonella poisoning in peanuts, eggs and produce in the past few years.

Some Republicans, sensitive to the public's concerns about high levels of government spending and debt, say the $1.4-billion, five-year price tag is too high and needs more scrutiny.

"I think we'll look very carefully at the funding before we support $1.4 billion," Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) said in an interview. Kingston hopes to become chairman of the agriculture subcommittee of the House panel that helps set government spending.

The bill passed Congress with broad bipartisan support last year on a 73-25 vote in the Senate and by 215-144 in the House.

Major food companies backed the bill, recognizing that safe food is good for business.

Obama quietly signed the bill at the White House after returning earlier Tuesday from a family vacation in Hawaii.