Let me get this straight: Georgia-based Peanut Corporation of America knowingly sold salmonella-tainted peanut butter by the truckload, much of it going to schools and nursing homes - the exact populations that would be most susceptible to this pathogen.

So far more than 12 instances of PCA finding salmonella in their product have been cited by the FDA. And yet, PCA took no action to identify the source or to clean up the problem. In fact, they actually shopped around for a friendly testing lab, trying to get a clean bill of health for their tainted goods.

Of course, the FDA hadn't even set foot in the Plainview, Texas PCA plant where the contamination took place since about 2001. Texas is one of several jurisdictions where state employees handle food safety inspections, ostensibly enforcing the same level of standards that the FDA would require.

The result? Eight dead and nearly 600 confirmed poisonings. And the Food and Drug Administration actually needed PCA's permission before they could even announce the recall? Even though PCA clearly lied to the FDA? Even though the government was already considering felony charges?

Effect Measure has an excellent string of posts detailing this travest and the AP as a complete timeline of events. Also, see this great interview with food safety activist, Bill Marler on the PCA case and beyond.



-- MDT