Texas Shutters Peanut Corp Plant

Posted by admin on February 13, 2009 under Crime, Environment, news | Comments are off for this article

Texas Department of State Health Services ordered Peanut Corporation of America, or PCA to “recall all products ever shipped from its Plainview (TX) plant.” (Source) DSHS made the decision to shut down the plant after find dead rodents, rodent excrement and bird feathers in an area where the air handling system could have been pulling debris into the production area.

You remember PCA right? They’re the guys that recently came under fire for shipping from PCA’s processing plant in Blakely, Georgia, peanut butter that was tainted with salmonella resulting in 501 people infected in 43 states. Addtionally one person was reported ill in Canada from the salmonella. PCA’s own tests showed that the peanut butter in question was tainted but they shipped it anyway. (Source)

The FDA website says 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 also emphasizes that major national brands of jarred peanut butter found in grocery stores are not affected by the PCA recall.

I just wonder who’s behind PCA and how they can do business like this? Shouldn’t the FDA do a complete examination of all PCA facilities immediately? Also shouldn’t there be criminal penalties for those who knowingly shipped tainted food? The US Justice Department needs to launch a criminal investigation.