Peanut Company Says FDA Found Products Safe
Seattle – Peanuts and products containing peanuts from a small Peanut Corporation of America plant in Blakely, Georgia have been linked to eight deaths and 575 illnesses in 43 states nationwide.
Company representatives told the FDA that while some lots of peanut butter had initially tested positive for salmonella they were found to be safe in subsequent testing. Upon further investigation, the FDA discovered that this claim is not true.
After reviewing data, inclulding information about testing and shipment dates, it was discovered that not only did the company ship some of the lots before retesting for the bacterium was completed, they also shipped some lots without ever having a second test performed, even though the first test was positive for salmonella.
The ending result is that a large number of schools, food manufacturing plants, and even the U.S. Department of Agriculture received the tainted products. According to reports, the company found salmonella in its products 12 times between 2007 and 2008.
These products were sold anyway, at times after subsequent testing from another laboratory confirmed the contamination. Test results were not released to the public or to health officials as it is not required by law. It was further reported that neither the equipment nor the plant were cleaned upon learning of the contamination.
So far 1,550 products have been recalled, including peanut butter in industrial size packaging, ice cream, cookies, crackers, nutrition bars, dog treats and more.
The 32 truckloads of peanut butter and roasted peanuts that were sent to the U.S. Department of Agriculture were intended to be used for poor children as part of the free-lunch program. While there have been no reports of illness among the children who received these products, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has suspended its contract with Peanut Corporation of America and any food that was not consumed has been ordered destroyed.
Additionally, the Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation to determine charges should be filed. Lawmakers and consumer advocates feel that now is the best time to take action to improve our nation’s system of food regulation.
The FDA has become increasingly understaffed and contracts more and more with state agencies to complete inspections. Deficiencies exist in the process and everyone from foodmakers to regulatory experts want a more consistent process with harsher sanctions and more authority for the FDA to make food recalls.
Peanut Corporation of America has not yet responded to the latest revelations in what could be the largest food recall in history. It is expected that, due to the long shelf life of peanut products, the outbreak will continue for some time and will effect more people than previous recalls for items such as spinach or jalapenos simply because so many people consume peanut butter or products containing peanut butter.
Another intended consequence of conservative social engneering and the utterly failed reaganite ideology of deregulation and “government is the problem” nonsense.