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Georgia Plant now the Focus of the Salmonella Outbreak Investigation

By Jessica Smagacz

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported today that a Georgia peanut butter plant, known as the Peanut Corporation of America, is the focus of investigation by federal and state officials as the “potential source in the national outbreak of salmonella illness.”

As many InjuryBoard members have been blogging on this week and last week, Minnesota health officials found salmonella bacteria in a five pound tub under the label of King Nut, manufactured by the Peanut Corporation of America.

Commissioner Tommy Irvin said that state agriculture agency staffers are helping FDA in inspecting the Blackely plant in Early County in southwest Georgia.

The incident of finding salmonella contaminated in peanut butter in a Minnesota long-term care facility helped link the salmonella outbreak to peanut butter.

Currently, this salmonella outbreak has been associated with five deaths and 434 sicknesses among 43 states, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. There have been no Georgians to die but six are ill, ranging from ages 7 to 73, according the Georgia state Division of Public Health.

Commissioner Tommy Irvin says that the test results should be completed at the end of this week. Peanut Corporation of America peanut butter has been found in wholesale food warehouses in Georgia but it still remains unclear whether the product has been sold to places such as metro Atlanta.

Throughout the investigation of this Georgia plant, inspection crews will take peanut butter samples and swabs of surfaces from the plant. They are collecting company samples distributed across the state and the plant records on where the products have been sold.

So after all of these investigations, Georgia may be the source to this salmonella outbreak nationwide.

See our latest blog on important information you need to know about salmonella poisoning and the Peanut Corporation of America’s recalled products: Peanut Corporation of America Recalls Peanut Butter produced in its Georgia facility.

Salmonella poisoning can become a dangerous sickness. If you have eaten peanut butter, look out for these symptoms of salmonella: Diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps.

If you or someone close to you has salmonella poisoning, you may want to contact the attorneys at Childers & Schlueter, LLP to see how they can help protect your legal rights.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jessica Smagacz

Full post as published by Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyer on January 15, 2009 (boomark / email).