USDA Reports Salmonella-Tainted Peanut Butter Sent to Schools in 2007
February 10, 2009
USDA Reports Salmonella-Tainted Peanut Butter Sent to Schools in 2007
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported late last week that the
agency had purchased peanut butter for school lunch and other nutrition
assistance programs from the Peanut Corporation of America (PCA), the firm
at the center of the country’s widespread salmonella outbreak. The outbreak
has claimed 8 lives and affected people in 47 states. None of these deaths
has been specifically linked to the school peanut butter. PCA company
documents reveal there had been at least 12 positive tests for salmonella at
its plant in 2007 & 2008 yet the company continued to ship its product and
did not report any test results to government oversight bodies. More than
1000 products have been recalled because PCA produced peanut butter in bulk
for sale and peanut butter paste used in other packaged products such as
crackers.

Given a growing number of food-related disease outbreaks over the past 2
years, American consumers and political leaders are increasingly questioning
the efficacy of the nation’s food safety programs. Both the USDA and Food
and Drug Administration have responsibility for various aspects of food
production, food safety and inspection.

For more information on the outbreak please see:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/09/AR2009020900381.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/09/us/09peanuts.html?_r=1&ref=health

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/05/AR2009020500743.html

For more information on nutrition and food safety, please see:
http://www.healthinschools.org/Educators-and-Families/Parents/Learn-Now/Nutr
ition-and-Food-Safety.aspx