FDA Reveals Violations As Peanut Butter Recall Continues

The report indicates that between June 2007 and September 2008 in at least 12 instances the plants own internal testing revealed its product was contaminated with salmonella. The tainted product was eventually retested until the results read negative and shipped anyway. The FDA said the company did not initially disclose the first tests to investigators trying to solve the current salmonella outbreak.

According to the FDA website "PCA distributed potentially contaminated product to more than 70 consignee firms, for use as an ingredient in hundreds of different products, such as cookies, crackers, cereal, candy and ice cream.”

The Associated Press reports that more than 500 people have gotten sick in the outbreak and at least eight may have died as a result of salmonella infection. As a result a nation wide peanut butter recall took more than 400 products off the shelves. The plant has since stopped all production.

Among violations discovered by the FDA were roaches, mold and signs of a leaky roof. Water stains were seen on the ceiling around the intakes and near skylights. The leaky ceiling could itself be one of the catalysts to the crisis as salmonella thrives in moist environments.

The American Peanut Council, the trade association which represents all segments of the peanut industry, articulated “shock and dismay” upon learning of the FDA’s report that the Peanut Corp. of America had knowingly shipped contaminated food products. According to Peter Archer, President of the Council, “Willful neglect of public health and safety cannot be tolerated under any circumstances.”

The FDA acknowledges its inspection report is preliminary, and the agency said the findings do not represent a final judgment on the company's compliance with food safety laws and regulations.

By: Alberto Ramos Cordero