F.D.A. Critical of Peanut Butter Plant
The plant in Georgia that produced the tainted peanut butter tied to a deadly, nationwide salmonella outbreak had reason to believe that some batches of its products were contaminated with strains of the bacteria but shipped them anyway, federal officials said.
The company that owns the plant, the Peanut Corporation of America, based in Lynchburg, Va., had found on at least 12 occasions in 2007 and 2008 that samples of its peanut butter and peanut paste contained salmonella, the Food and Drug Administration said. But rather than destroy the tainted batches and take other remedial action, the agency said, the company in some instances sought out additional tests from private laboratories. When those additional tests came back negative, the company shipped out the products to manufacturers across the country, the agency said.
Agency officials said that the company should have cleaned its facilities after its discoveries, and called its decision to ship the contaminated products a violation of good manufacturing practices. The agency is expected to post the findings of its investigation on its Web site on Wednesday.
If this is the standards for the peanut industry then how do we know all peanut butter isn’t bad? Just because they haven’t been caught yet? 43 states are reporting salmonella in peanut products. If we boycot all peanut butter we will force the peanut butter industry to beg for regulation and testing. Any industry that ignores the health and safety of the consumer deserves punishment.
So first we fuck the tomato farmers, and now the peanut growers?
Criminal prosecutions and/or massive Federal fines might help if the Government cared about its fiduciary duties.
And what exactly was sent to the confirming laboratories? Was that Dr. Beeker or some other muppet? Prosecute them too.
2,
Agreed. Jail all those greedy bastards (and not in the nice place).
This assumes that the entire industry is like the operators / management of this plant. I assure you that this is highly unlikely. Having worked in the seafood industry – all but one of which were smaller manufacturers – I can tell you that some need regulations forced on them while others do whatever they can to comply. While some regulations are ridiculous, like ones proposed against all Listeria (an endemic biologic in the environment), not just Listeria monocytogenes or cholera, for instance, asking them to prevent this bug family from ever showing up in a plant is silly. Yes, you need specific tests.
That aside, this plant obviously ignored their own findings. Even though they took some prudent steps, logically, I’d be willing to bet they weren’t following their HACCP plan. If they were, they have a legal leg to stand on as these tests can produce false negatives. However, they are also responsible for the people they farm tests out to also. At the very least, their HACCP plan, if they have one, will undergo a change. At the worst, they violated their plan, GMP, and will have the book thrown at them – a huge fine and possibly the closure of the plant. That’s a lot of jobs in a time of economic stress. And the management is clearly to blame if they didn’t do due diligence.
Note: the FDA has a history (pre-Shrub admin) of saying things are much worse than they actually are and trying to throw the book at you for comparatively minor offenses without regards to extenuating circumstances. THEN after making like a 500 lb. gorilla is going to sit on you, they try to negotiate. They use to try to help food companies first then police afterwords, not police first then let those able survive. The NMFS is another example of an agency set originally to help that has totally become a policing agency. All stick and no carrot isn’t a good way for anyone to work.
So, I’d take some of what the FDA says with a grain or five of salt until more evidence comes out, if we ever do hear the whole story. Personally, I think the company was likely negligent but it wouldn’t surprise me if they did what their FDA approved HACCP plan called for either, assuming they have one. The entire food industry SHOULD have a HACCP plan. I don’t know if that’s required for everyone though.
HACCP – Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point
Look it up. Pioneered by Pillsbury and used extensively by Japanese in many areas and only in the last 15 or so has it come into widespread use in many U.S. industries.
Peanut butter is fine, if you make it at home. No salt peanuts and real peanut oil!
I agree Sparky, or find a grocery that has the little machine that grinds the dry roasted nuts. Yummmmmm. Better than anything in a commercial jar any day.
I wonder if this is another case where the cost of destroying/cleaning is considered more than the cost of a few lawsuits later?
#4, gm,
While some regulations are ridiculous, like ones proposed against all Listeria (an endemic biologic in the environment), not just Listeria monocytogenes or cholera, for instance, asking them to prevent this bug family from ever showing up in a plant is silly.
Bullshit!!! If the food plant can not contain listeria or any other pathogen they should not be in business. It is only silly if you can not remove all pathogens AND it isn’t your mother with the failing kidneys.
They use to try to help food companies first then police afterwords, not police first then let those able survive.
Food is what people put inside their bodies. If a food manufacturing plant is incapable of producing healthy food in a sanitary facility they shouldn’t be there. If any food processing plant fails a health inspection, they should not have their hand held. Shut ‘em down and recall all the contaminated product.
That is too tough? Well every day thousands of manufacturers produce healthy food products in clean facilities. Don’t use the excuse “well listeria is a tough bug” when it is MY EFFEN HEALTH.
If you are so worried about your health, why are you eating mass produced food to begin with?
Hello. My name is Improbus Montoya. Your peanut butter killed my father! Prepare to die!
Seriously, the era of lax regulation should be over. Stick it to them Congress.
#9, SL,
I hope you aren’t trying to suggest you never eat processed food.
While do prefer fresh, too often foods can not be obtained without buying processed. Yes you can bake your own bread, I just made some yesterday, but the yeast, flour, sugar, oil, and salt were purchased and processed in their own way.
The last time an industry cried out for regulation, we got the Pure Food and Drug Act, with all the damage it has caused over the past century or so.
Better would be ongoing testing and certification by a well respected testing firm. Publish the most recent results on your label.
Of course, folks won’t pay the additional 2 cents for your products when they can buy a dodgy one from your competitor. Or, considering the “organic foods” nonsense, maybe they will…
Is there any food that is inorganic? I mean, no carbon?
#12, Dave,
The last time an industry cried out for regulation, we got the Pure Food and Drug Act,
Not true. The Pure Food and Drug Act was a direct result of several exposes about the meat packing plants in Chicago. The filth and accompanying illnesses and death in society caused such a backlash that Congress couldn’t pass the bill fast enough.
Better would be ongoing testing and certification by a well respected testing firm. Publish the most recent results on your label.
Self regulation? Isn’t that what the Republicans wanted for the banks and mortgage industry? Hey, how is that one working out?
Is there any food that is inorganic? I mean, no carbon?
If you don’t know by now it must mean you are a right wing nut. Have you ever heard of TAP WATER. I sear, I couldn’t live without it. Fresh, cool, delicious!
water is considered to be food now?
Commercially produced peanut butter is not recommended for consumption by many nutritionists but, one in particular mentions that PB products can contain A LOT of ground up FUNGI..which can grow like mad in the proper incubator called THE HUMAN BODY.
The micotoxins produced by fungi are a prime cause of on-going “mystery” ailments and allergy symptoms that plague millions of us. Add vinegar, in whatever form like tablets, to your diet as it destroys fungi and you’ll start feeling healthier than you can imagine.
If it proves to be true that the people running the company sold what they knew to be a contaminated product they they should be charged with murder and premeditated murder at that.
Self regulation? Well we’ve seen how well that works in both the stock market and the banking industy. Remember that the people who lied to Congress about the health effects of tobacco products are also the nations largest food supplier, RJR.
Would you want to eat anywhere where there were no public health inspections? Maybe there just shouldn’t be any over site…. No FAA, let Boing build what ever they want, no USDA, no FDA or no DOT and when something happens you can, as a small individual, try to bring your case to court against a well paid battery of lawyers.
Sea Lawyer, yes bottled water must meet certain health standards, you know like purity, free from heavy metals, need I go on…
# 16 smittyjs said, on January 28th, 2009 at 11:46 am If it proves to be true that the people running the company sold what they knew to be a contaminated product they they should be charged with murder and premeditated murder at that.
Isn’t that what they do in China?
Who knew that China had better food regulations and penalties than us.
uh i’ve had a jar of skippy for a while now. The labeled said bottled in NJ. I haven’t been sick yet.
The problem is that the FDA can’t even begin to do its job if it wanted too. They don’t have the resources.
Well this clearly shows that reducing funding for regulatory agencies is a good thing. Hey, only a few people died, and they were probably wards of the state anyway- double bonus!
You can and always should trust American companies to do the right thing! Why, regulating them at all is just silly. And my goodness can you believe how much the angels get sued for?!? It’s a crime I tell ya.
If you don’t like the fact that a company’s product kills you then don’t buy it.
Sheesh.