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US Food and Drug Administration inspectors who for the first
time visited the Plainview, Texas, food processing plant run by
Peanut Corporation of America were clearly disgusted by what they
found last month.
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* 'What appeared to be rodent excreta pellets too numerous to
count were observed in the cabinet under the sink in the south most
kitchen.'
* 'In the cabinet north of the dishwasher ... I counted
approximately 27 rodent excreta pellets.'
* 'Another dead mouse was found just outside the south most doorway
of the kitchen. ... This mouse also appeared to have recently
died.'
* 'What appeared to be a bird's nest was observed in the
wall/ceiling metal support beam at southwest corner of the
mezzanine area.'
* Processing machines had buildup of 'gooey' peanut paste.
* Numerous roof leaks.
The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention says 677
people in 45 states have been sickened in the outbreak of
salmonella food poisoning, which is still going on, and which has
been traced to two of the company's plants in Georgia and
Texas.
So far, more than 2,833 products have been pulled from store
shelves since mid-January, although not brand names of peanut
butter, which are not affected.
The recall is the latest in a series involving tainted lettuce,
peppers and spinach that have eroded public confidence in food
safety and renewed calls for change at the FDA.
A bipartisan group of senators introduced legislation on Tuesday
that would widen FDA powers to control food safety.
The CDC said while the number of new cases has declined modestly
since December, the outbreak is continuing, noting that many people
who have become ill recently reported eating peanut butter and
other recalled products.
'FDA and CDC are concerned that illness will continue to occur
if people eat recalled peanut-containing products that are still on
their shelves at home,' the CDC said on its website.
'Consumers should check at home for recalled peanut butter
containing products and discard them,' the CDC urged.
Peanut Corp. has declared bankruptcy and has been unavailable
for comment. Company officials declined to speak to Congress about
the outbreak at a hearing last month. -- REUTERS