Personal Injury Law

Peanut Butter Plant Raided by Feds

By Joe Saunders

The Peanut Corporation of America's Blakely Georgia plant was raided earlier this morning by FBI agents. The plant was sealed off and federal agents are investigating the potentially criminal activity of plant officials. On January 30, 2009, the FDA initiated a criminal probe into the plant's knowingly distributing product that was contaminated. As a result, there have been 600 reported cases of illnesses and 8 deaths connected to the salmonella tainted peanut butter.

If the criminal allegations prove true, it reminds me of the Chinese heparin scandal of last year. Who knows why the peanut officials would knowingly ship contaminated product. If you recall, the heparin case however, officials in that case wanted to increase profits.

While the economy is crisis #1 right now, food safety is not far behind the economy in terms of issues that must be dealt with and quickly. If consumers can't trust the food they are purchasing, we have a huge problem on our hands.

Full post as published by Tampa Bay Personal Injury Law on February 10, 2009 (boomark / email).