Free Essays, Term Papers, Research Papers at Anti Essays

“Peanut Butter Recall Grows in Salmonella Scare.” The New York Times Gardner Harris 28 January 2009

Federal regulators have recently alleged that the Georgia peanut butter plant, involved in
the recent salmonella outbreak, has knowing shipped contaminated products. According to the
FDA investigation, the plant had 12 occasions of positive contamination tests. They continued to
ship out products after negative results were obtained from subsequent tests. However, the FDA
states that they did not perform any clean-up of the plant after the contamination was found.
This clean-up failure is illegal. It is suspected that the plant was not properly separating raw and
cooked products.
The Georgia peanut butter company has now extended its recall to all products made
since 01 January, 2007. More than 400 products, containing commercial peanut butter spread,
have been recalled. This recent outbreak of salmonella has spread through 43 states. Over 500
people have reported illness and eight (8) people have died.
Many in congress are calling for further investigation and new legislation. The food
safety system currently relies on voluntary notices and recalls from companies. There is often an
interval of several weeks between the first signs of contamination and recall. There is also no
mandatory reporting of positive contamination test results if subsequent negative results can be
produced.
Salmonellosis is caused by different serotypes including Salmonella Typhimurium and
Salmonella Enteritidis....