It seems the story of the Peanut Corporation of America just keeps getting better and better as it shows just how poor America’s food safety system really is…

Even amid a national salmonella outbreak linked to peanuts, state health officials allowed a Texas peanut plant last month to continue shipping its product though they knew the facility had not been licensed or inspected since its opening nearly four years ago.(1)

The real story here is that if a company doesn’t file for a license, the state has no way of knowing it exists. It’s like driving a car without a license…If you don’t break the speed limit or run a red light, if you don’t get involved in an accident…Your chances of getting caught are pretty slim. Here is the part I like though…

But the agency issued no fines against the plant for operating without a license and did not shut it down for being unlicensed. McBride said his agency generally likes to work with companies to get them into compliance.(1)

“Unless there’s an immediate threat to public health, that’s the approach we generally use,” McBride said.

Which brings us to this bit of news…

Peanut Corporation of America, the company at the center of the nationwide salmonella scare, has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection and will begin liquidating its assets as legal claims pile up against it.(2)

After the owner of PCA refused to answer questions in front of Congress this week, is this surprising?

And just for the record…

PCA’s products have been linked to nine deaths and 636 cases of food poisoning in 44 states, and more claims expected to follow. Records released during congressional hearings last week showed the company continued to ship its products even after they tested positive for deadly bacteria.(2)

(1)via Troubled peanut plant lacked license 4 years after opening | Houston & Texas News | Chron.com – Houston Chronicle.

(2)via Peanut Company at Center of Salmonella Scare Files for Bankruptcy Protection – washingtonpost.com.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Outbreak Tough Nut for Congress to Crack (abcnews.go.com)
• Peanut Company Shuts It’s Texas Plant (coffeemuses.com)
• Peanut Butter Recall (coffeemuses.com)
• Company in salmonella probe shuts 2nd plant (msnbc.msn.com)
• Critics blame agencies over salmonella (cnn.com)
• So, Who’s To Blame For The Salmonella Outbreak? PCA, The FDA, The CDC… [Pointing Fingers] (consumerist.com)
• Lax Regulation In Peanut Factories (cbsnews.com)