P.C.A. knowingly sold salmonella tainted products

There is an update to the case of tainted peanut products coming out of the Peanut Corporation of America’s Georgia Plant. After an inspection that began on January ninth, the Food and Drug Administration has officially turned its findings into a criminal investigation. A more detailed review of the records provided during the inspection confirms that the information provided by P.C.A. during the inspection was not consistent with the analysis of their records. The procedures before shipment of batches of peanut paste include two tests for Salmonella. And it turns out that the Peanut Corporation had knowingly shipped products that tested positive for salmonella. In some situations, P.C.A. received a positive Salmonella test result, followed by a later negative result but still shipped the products. In other situations the firm shipped the products before it had received the results and occasionally no additional testing appears to have been done. Because of this revelation, additional products are still being added to an expanded recall.

P.C.A. distributes the peanut paste to food manufacturers to be used as an ingredient in many commercially produced products including cakes, cookies, crackers, candies, cereal and ice cream. The Kellogg Company recalled sixteen items including the Austin Brand, Famous Amos Peanut Butter Cookies and Keebler Soft Batch Homestyle Peanut Butter Cookies. Also being recalled is the popular Little Debbie brand and Shurfine Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream. Hy-Vee Inc is voluntarily recalling the following products made in its bakery departments including Peanut Butter Reese’s Pieces Cookies, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies, and Lunchbox Reese’s Pieces Cookies. Food safety inspectors from the Belize Agricultural Health Authority continue to check local store shelves to remove the tainted products.