Enough is enough, the White House has declared: Yesterday, a food safety working group [1] established by Barack Obama announced new standards in the production of foods [2] such as eggs, poultry, beef, leafy greens, melons, and tomatoes.

In the last year, members of virtually every food group — from spinach, jalapeños, milk, and peanut butter to cookie dough, beef [3], and now dry milk [4] — have been recalled due to possible salmonella or E. coli contamination. With a series of new rules, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius are hoping to prevent as many further food safety issues as possible. Find out what the guidelines are when you read more.

• Egg and poultry producers will undergo more testing and follow new standards.
• The Agriculture Department agency responsible for inspecting meat will increase sampling of E. coli contamination.
• The FDA will recommend ways that producers of leafy greens, melons, and tomatoes can reduce disease strains. Stricter standards are eminent within the next two years.
• New positions will be created within the Agriculture Department to better oversee food safety.

What do you think of these measures? Are you confident that they will boost the quality of food in our country?