U.S. President Barack Obama has signed into law the Food Safety Modernization Act, the largest overhaul of U.S. food safety laws in more than 70 years. The law would empower the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to order a food recall when a company refuses the agency’s request that it do so voluntarily.

It requires the FDA to inspect food facilities more often, expands its access to food facility records, and requires food producers and processors to identify possible hazards and develop prevention plans.

Since 2006, a series of foodborne disease outbreaks have took place in the U.S., sickening thousands and shaking the public’s confidence in the safety of the food supply.