Ga. peanut plant was aware of contamination, but still sold products
Law makers are urging federal prosecutors to criminally investigate a South Georgia peanut processing plant linked to a nationwide salmonella outbreak.
As the Associated Press reports:
This outbreak is suspected of killing eight people and sickening around 500 so far, making it the most deadly food contamination outbreak in at least the past 20 years. The outbreak has also caused the recall of more than 300 products -- cookies, candy, ice cream, cereal and pet foods -- produced by 70 companies.
As the Associated Press reports:
The Food and Drug Administration said this week that the Peanut Corp. of America plant in southwest Georgia repeatedly shipped products that they knew tested positive for salmonella. Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin said Wednesday that the plant tried to hide test results and caused a "mammoth problem" that could destroy the peanut industry.The Atlanta-Journal Constitution reports that the Lynchburg, Va.-based Peanut Corporation of America plant found salmonella contamination on 12 occasions in the last two years, but the company still sold the products after an outside lab said the product was safe, federal investigators said.
This outbreak is suspected of killing eight people and sickening around 500 so far, making it the most deadly food contamination outbreak in at least the past 20 years. The outbreak has also caused the recall of more than 300 products -- cookies, candy, ice cream, cereal and pet foods -- produced by 70 companies.
