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Peanut Butter Recall Sickens Hundreds, Criminal Probe Continues

By Peter Kent

Republish: EasyPublish™ Published: 10Feb2009 Word count: 714 Viewed: 372 time(s) Get Free Content For Your Site

The recent recall of peanut butter that had sickened approximately 575 individuals - killing at least eight - affecting victims across 43 states, according to the Chicago Tribune, is also responsible for the recall of more than 400 products, including peanut butter foods that have been made for dogs, prompting recalls for pet-owners as well.

The initial recall occurred on January 13 from a peanut butter manufacturing plant in Blakely, Georgia, when hundreds of companies who received bulk shipments of peanut butter deriving from the Peanut Corp. of America (PCA) reported a suspected outbreak of peanut butter containing salmonella. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed the salmonella risk on January 27 after visiting the plant on January 9 and beginning an investigation that would last two and half weeks, according to an FDA public health advisory.

By the time the recall was issued on January 13 from the company, at least 400 individuals had been sickened by peanut butter made in the previous six months from the Peanut Corp. of America plant. Nearly half of those sickened were children and the salmonella outbreak had cost, at that point, the lives of five victims.

As the investigation of the FDA continued, peanut-butter products continued to be recalled, however, again, on January 28, another peanut butter recall occurred as part of a voluntary move by the PCA, according to an article from The New York Times and an FDA public health advisory. This time, the recall included products made over the previous two years, stemming up to January 1, 2007, and including peanut butter shipped in a range of sizes anywhere from five pounds up to 1,700 pounds to dozens of other food manufacturing companies around the country. By January 28, approximately 500 individuals had been sickened across nearly all 50 states.

Following the announcement of a second recall, on January 30, the FDA announced it would implement a criminal probe to investigate the doings of the Blakely, Georgia plant, which is now closed, as well as allegations against the Peanut Corp. of America, which will include findings that the company did not follow procedures to test the peanut butter for salmonella, that the company sent out peanut butter that tested positive for salmonella, as well as peanut butter that was never tested at all for such contamination.

On February 5, another blow to PCA occurred when the FDA posted an amendment to its initial investigation stating that, information provided during the inspections and provided by the Peanut Corp. of America management was not consistent with the subsequent analysis of the company‚ records, according to the FDA‚ investigation records. In other words, the FDA found that PCA allegedly falsified records during the initial investigation.

According to the Chicago Tribune, "the company has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing," however, on Wednesday, Feb. 11, the owner and president of the PCA, Stewart Parnell, was scheduled to testify before the House and Energy and Commerce Committee, which is conducting the criminal probe against PCA. Meanwhile, most products continue to be recalled, however, the number of individuals still rises and that number does not include the potential hundreds of victims sickened by the contaminated peanut butter who did not report their salmonella poisonings.

Victims Seek Assistance For Peanut Butter Recall

Individuals who have been affected by the salmonella infections are encouraged to seek medical attention in case their symptoms worsen and the infection of the salmonella bacteria causes further harm to a victim.

Additionally, it is imperative that a victim locate a peanut butter recall attorney to learn more about developing a peanut butter recall lawsuit as the ability to retrieve monetary compensation for damages endured by a poison-victim increase when such litigation is developed.

For many, salmonella will heal on its own, however, individuals are also at risk for death as well as job loss for missing work due to such an unexpected illness, infecting others with their condition as well as the onset of further side effects, which may last longer than normal depending on an individual and their immunity to such a condition. It may be possible for a peanut butter recall victim to receive monetary compensation for the side effects of the salmonella poisonings, which is why it is important that a victim at least meet with and receive a legal consultation for such litigation from a knowledgeable peanut butter recall lawyer.

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