Mr. Peanut to do Perp Walk

Our great and good friends at the Associated Press released the news today that
Peanut Corp. of America owner Stewart Parnell ordered the shipments tainted with the bacteria because he was worried about lost sales.  What more can one say.

Peanuts the New Pinto

The New York Times reported this morning that the Peanut Corporation of America has closed a second processing plant; this one deep in the heart of Plainview, Texas.  Given the fact that the first plant in Georgia had 'problems' with its hygiene it's not too surprising that a second location would have it's own 'issues.'

As noted in the article (and widely reported) the roof on the building leaked so badly that workers erected tarps near the ceiling whenever it rained.  When they were there - meaning if it rained at night, well, anything that was up on the roof (bird droppings, dead animals, etc) would wind up draining off the roof and onto the peanut product and associated machinery.  Also noted was the fact that never-draining standing water was a daily fact in the building's basement.  Take peanuts, shelter, ample water and lax cleaning habits and you get:  rats and other vermin aplenty.  So the plant was not a shining example of the way to run a food-processing operation.  At least, as far as we consumers are given to believe.

Now, before the reader accuses me of going all paranoid about the way our country minds its P's and Q's (there are other better brains to do that work, for which I am grateful) consider the costs involved in running a filthy plant.  Right.   The costs are less than running a clean plant. And if those costs are compounded day + day + day, pretty soon you really don't want to do anything about the problem, except maybe clean up enough for the FDA to come through and hopefully not look to closely or carefully.  And if your're lucky that won't happen except, oh, every four years or so.

OK, now I'm starting to feel a little like Lewis Black, but hold on:  people run the plant, and people are basically good, so what up with that?  After you quit a place like that, you could call your local newspaper, write a blog, whatever, get it off your chest that you watched stuff like that go on.  Right?

Kenneth Kendrick, a former assistant plant manager of the Texas facility, said in an interview that the plant had a leaky roof, rodent infestation and poor process controls. A second former employee of the Texas plant, who asked for anonymity because of legal concerns, confirmed Mr. Kendrick’s descriptions of the plant and its processes. Mr. Kendrick left the plant about two years ago.

“This was a disgusting plant,” Mr. Kendrick said. “We cut corners.”

The plant always had standing water in its basement, Mr. Kendrick said. The roof leaked so badly that when it rained, workers were instructed to raise tarps to the ceiling to direct the water away from peanuts and plant equipment, the two said. Rain at night went unattended, they said.

So much for conscience here.  Anyway, at some point (if this story has legs enough) we'll find out what the management of the company did to evade detection.  Did they help stock the FDA's employee pool with friendly inspectors?  Discuss internally the costs associated with recalls?  The second item is worth a second or third look, given that the food industry tells the FDA when a recall is OK.

If you delay recalls long enough, the problem goes away - into the guts of consumers.  Sure, you pay off a few illness claims and death claims, but the product is sold, you got paid, and if the plant closes, heck, you can just take a few months off and re-open "Under New Management."

Gates Gets Elites Buzzed

With thanks to Slashdot's CmdrTaco:

"Microsoft founder turned philanthropist Bill Gates released a glass full of mosquitoes at an elite Technology, Entertainment, Design Conference to make a point about the deadly sting of malaria. "Malaria is spread by mosquitoes," Gates said while opening a jar on stage at a gathering known to attract technology kings, politicians, and Hollywood stars. "I brought some. Here I'll let them roam around. There is no reason only poor people should be infected.""

Like so many others Bill is really outshining his first life with actions in his second.

No More Waiting For The Peanuts to Dissolve

Peanuts,Food Safety

 

(With thanks to the late Mr. Frank Zappa for the title of this blog)

 

The Associated Press reports the number of producers who are recalling their peanut-laden goodies is increasing:

 

GKI Foods Inc. is recalling a variety of peanut candies, because they could be contaminated with salmonella. This is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections, especially in young children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems. No illness has been reported. The candies were available nationwide and sold under a variety of brand names. Details: by phone at 248-486-0055.

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Genisoy Food Co. is recalling Genisoy organic apple cinnamon soy protein bars, because they could be contaminated with salmonella. No illness has been reported. The bars were available in grocery and specialty stores. Details: by phone at 888-436-4769; by Web at http://www.genisoy.com

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Eillien's Candies Inc. is recalling select jars of dry roasted peanuts, because they could be contaminated with salmonella. No illness has been reported. The nuts were sold in drug, convenience and grocery stores. Details: by phone at 920-336-7549.

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Landies Candies is expanding its earlier recall of select chocolates, because they could be contaminated with salmonella. No illness has been reported. The recalled candies were available in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia. Details: by phone at 800-955-2634.

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House of Flavors Ice Cream Co. is expanding its earlier recall of select ice cream products, because they could be contaminated with salmonella. No illness has been reported. Details: by phone at 800-930-7740 extension 2229.

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Kashi is recalling select granola bars, because they could be contaminated with salmonella. No illness has been reported. The recalled bars were sold around the country in retail and club stores. Details: by Web at http://www.kashipeanutbutterrecall.com.

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Nutritional Resources Inc. is recalling select protein bars, because they could be contaminated with salmonella. The recalled bars were distributed to weight-loss centers and bariatric physicians in Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, Nevada, California and Ohio. Details: by phone at 800-395-8931.

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Great Skott Foods is recalling select snack mixes, because they could be contaminated with salmonella. The recalled snacks were available at stores around the country. Details: by phone at 414-291-9977.

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Hershey Import Co. is recalling select snacks sold under a variety of brand names, because they could be contaminated with salmonella. No illness has been reported. The recalled products have expiration dates between Jan. 1, 2008 and Jan. 29, 2010 and lot codes 7001 through 9029. Details: by Web at http://www.unfi.com.

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Ocean Spray is recalling select lots of Fruit and Nut trail mix products, because they could be contaminated with salmonella. No illness has been reported. The trail mixes were sold nationwide. Details: by phone at 800-662-3263.

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Walgreen Co. is expanding its recall of peanut products to include a variety of trail mixes, because they could be contaminated with salmonella. No illness has been reported. Details: by phone at 847-315-2755.

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Prairie Farms Dairy is recalling two ice cream products, because they could be contaminated with salmonella. No illness has been reported. The ice cream was sold in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Details: by phone at 800-421-3459.

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Hudsonville Ice Cream is recalling one of its ice cream products, because it could be contaminated with salmonella. No illness has been reported. The ice cream was sold in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. Details: by phone at 616-546-4005.

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The Hain Celestial Group Inc. is expanding an earlier recall of one of its Ethnic Gourmet frozen foods, because they could be contaminated with salmonella. No illness has been reported. Details: by phone at 800-739-4838.

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Cherrydale Manufacturing LLC recalls Bartons, Cherrydale Farms and Haddington Farms products because they have the potential to be contaminated with salmonella. There have been no illnesses reported.