WASHINGTON — The Senate failing to vote Dec. 16 on an omnibus bill that called for more than $1.1 trillion in spending put the F.D.A. Food Safety Modernization Act (S. 510) in limbo. Senate leader Harry Reid of Nevada conceded Dec. 16 that he lacked the votes to bring up the omnibus bill designed to fund the federal government for the rest of the fiscal year.

In November the Senate passed the F.D.A. Food Safety Modernization Act. The bill would provide new authorities and resources to the Food and Drug Administration to more effectively regulate and ensure the safe manufacture and distribution of food in the United States.