Canadian Lawmakers Overwhelmingly Approve Food Safety Bill

A recent food contamination crisis involving E. coli bacteria at an Alberta, Canada, meat processing plant apparently energized legislators to overwhelmingly approve a new federal food safety bill. The bill becomes law by “Royal Assent”. Approved earlier by the Senate, the bill was passed unanimously by the House of Commons. According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the Safe Food for Canadians Act targets unsafe practices, implements tougher penalties for violators, provides for better controls over imported foods, strengthens food traceability and implements a more consistent food inspection process.