Your Killing Me

This article appeared on FOXNews.com
It was contributed by the Associated Press
"FDA: Georgia Plant Knowingly Shipped Salmonella-Laced Products
Saturday, February 07, 2009

WASHINGTON — A Georgia peanut plant knowingly shipped salmonella-laced products as far back as 2007, at times sending out tainted products after tests confirmed contamination, according to inspection records released Friday.
Food and Drug Administration officials earlier had said Peanut Corp. of America waited for a second test to clear peanut butter and peanuts that initially were positive for salmonella. But the agency amended its report Friday, noting that the Blakely, Ga., plant actually shipped some products before receiving the second test and sold others after confirming salmonella.
Federal law forbids producing or shipping foods under conditions that could make it harmful to consumers' health.
In 2007 the company shipped chopped peanuts on July 18 and 24 after salmonella was confirmed by private lab tests. Peanut Corp. sold products "on or after the positive salmonella results were obtained," the FDA report states.
In other cases, the company didn't wait for a second round of salmonella tests."In some instances, peanut products were shipped by (the company) prior to having assurance that the products were negative for salmonella," said Michael Rogers, head of field investigations for the FDA.
Rogers said the FDA made the discovery after a more detailed analysis of records submitted by the company.
The salmonella outbreak has been blamed for at least eight deaths and 575 illnesses in 43 states. The Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation. More than 1,550 products have been recalled.
A Peanut Corp. lawyer said the company is investigating what happened at the plant and had no comment on the latest FDA findings.
"We have not made a determination yet on liability," said attorney Amy Rotenberg. "We are neither denying or admitting liability at this point. We are still investigating."
Peanut Corp. previously said it "categorically denies any allegations" that it sought lab results that would put its products in a favorable light.
Problems at the plant are not new. FDA inspectors found in 2001 that products potentially were exposed to insecticides, one of several violations uncovered during the last visit federal officials made before the current food-poisoning scare, according to a report obtained by The Associated Press." Go here to read more.

This is a case of the almighty buck again. If there is ever a question about food, do something about it. Better to lose a product than a person's life, right? We're talking about poison, where "tainted food" means having deteriorating quality or principle. We have more laws than you can shake a stick at. But what good are they if people do not have the law of love of thy neighbor in their hearts. The bottom line is: Throw this out? of course not! We might lose money here.

The goods are staples of the elderly and children of this country who rely on protein and fat that can be consumed with little or no chewing.

Many times, more recently than ever, when I buy strawberries, they do not look fresh, and sometimes they are moldy in between where one cannot see, until purchased. Just because the date is good through--doesn't always mean that it will be good. If doesn't pass the taste test, toss it. Unfortunately we cannot always go by the taste test, and these bacteria are hidden from us until we become "deathly ill".
Lately, no one has the answers anywhere. There is no admitting when we are wrong. This product that was consumed, came from our "own." Can't blame anyone else this time, as we have other countries in the more recent past. That's another topic entirely. Who sets the standards for imported foods, or are there any? Other goods may harm us, and yet, sadly, many goods are imported, good and bad, as we have seen.

Wise up America, What is it? Don't you get paid enough to care about your neighbor? Your neighbors child? Or, is it too easy to pass the buck? When is it going to stop. Certainly not with death as you very well know, in a society that cares little for life. Good job, what's next? And just where are the people who are paid to protect us in all this with our tax dollars?