President Obama Signs Food Safety Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- President Obama signed into law a $1.4-billion overhaul of the nation's food safety system -- the first major overhaul of the system since the 1930s, the Associated Press reported.

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

There have been several deadly outbreaks of E. coli and salmonella poisoning in peanuts, eggs and produce in the past few years, according to the AP report. The federal government estimates that 48 million people -- or one in six Americans -- are sickened every year by a food-borne illness. Of that, 180,000 are hospitalized and 3,000 die.

Obama made improving food safety a priority when he took office.