8 people died from the contamination, including 4 children http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,484933,00.html Officials at the food plant in Blakely, Ga., responsible for the nationwide salmonella outbreak, knowingly shipped contaminated peanut butter and did not do anything to correct the mold growing on their walls and ceilings, Agence France-Presse reported. The outbreak, which took place between Sept. 1 and Jan. 9, infected more than 500 people in 43 states, and one person in Canada, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The CDC, along with the Food and Drug Administration, is conducting an investigation. The recent salmonella outbreak may have contributed to eight deaths, according to the CDC. According to the FDA, people became sick or died after consuming food products containing peanut butter produced at the Peanut Corporation of America. "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 FDA said on its Web site. A report by the FDA released Wednesday revealed 12 instances between June 2007 and September 2008 where the plant’s testing discovered its products were contaminated by salmonella. However, the company still shipped the product. Upon inspection, mold was found inside the plant, including on the building’s ceilings and walls of the food cooler. It appeared roaches had made the plant their home as well. The American Peanut Council articulated “shock and dismay” upon learning of the FDA’s report that the Peanut Corp. of America had knowingly shipped contaminated food products. Symptoms of salmonella include diarrhea, fever and cramping. The illness can last four to seven days. About 1.4 million Americans develop salmonella each year and 400 die from it, according to the CDC. A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against the Peanut Corp. by the family of a 72-year-old Minnesota woman. The family alleges she died from salmonella poisoning. Click here for more on this story from the AFP.
What the hell is wrong with people? Who knowingly continues to produce and ship a tainted product? Who had the final say? Congratulations douchebag, you just killed 8 people and counting.
Seriously, that's pretty ridiculous and completely inexcusable and unnecessary. Did they think it wouldn't better and that it would slip by unnoticed?
To clean the mold up and remove cockroaches, requires the plant to cease operations temporarily, costing the company money. Hiring people to clean the mold and remove the cockroaches costs the company money. Never forget: money drives business. Watch this: <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FeCNoI1XirI&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FeCNoI1XirI&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
Lucky they do business in the US and not in China. I wonder, though, if the FDA alows a low-level count of salmonella. I would think that the decision to ship is more gray if it is a matter of degree. The comment about the roaches was funny. I doubt there is a food-product plant in the country that doesn't have roaches.
I'm sorry - I just realized that that video clip had some cheasy music spliced into the background. If I had edit ability, I'd remove that clip and replace it with this one: <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CeCMSLP3Wy8&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CeCMSLP3Wy8&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
