Senate Passes Food Safety Bill...Again

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has passed a sweeping bill to make food safer, sending it to the House in the waning days of Congress.

This is the second time the Senate has passed the bill, which would give the government broad new powers to increase inspections of food processing facilities and force companies to recall tainted food. The chamber passed the bill for the first time three weeks ago, but it was caught in a constitutional snag when senators mistakenly included tax provisions that are by law supposed to originate in the House.

The version of the legislation passed by the Senate on Sunday is amended to avoid another such mishap.

The $1.4 billion bill would place stricter standards on imported foods and require larger producers to follow tougher rules for keeping food safe.