Your food won’t be any safer just yet. Today, the House of Representatives failed to pass the Food Safety Enhancement Act, despite an attempt to expedite this legislation before Congress leaves for its summer recess.  The vote, 280 in favor and 150 against, fell just short of the two-thirds majority that was required under fast-tracked legislation procedures. 

The FSEA would increase regulation of food processors and growers of fruits and vegetables and give the FDA the authority to require a recall.The legislation was spurred by recalls of tainted peanuts, spinach, peppers, cookie dough, and other foods -- many of which caused widespread illness.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there are 76 million cases of foodborne illness annually, leading to 5,000 deaths.

"It is essential that Congress act on food safety soon. This spring nine people died from eating contaminated peanut butter. We need to reform our broken food safety system so that these incidents are prevented before they happen,” said Jean Halloran, Director of Food Policy Initiatives at Consumers Union.

It is possible that the House will vote again Thursday under rules requiring a simple majority for approval.  

- Don Mays