Peanut Corporation of America Knew about Contaminated Products

Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) is expanding the scope of its peanut butter and peanut products recall. Their recall initially included products produced at its Blakely, Georgia plant since August 1, 2008. Now the recall is for all products produced at the Georgia plant since January 1, 2007. PCA is recalling two years worth of peanuts and peanut products. The number of recalled products has also expanded to include all peanuts (dry and oil roasted), granulated peanuts, peanut meal, peanut butter and peanut paste. Pet food is also included in this new expanded recall. Some of PCA’s peanut products are used in the manufacturing of pet food.

These additional recalls are all the result of a salmonella outbreak, that PCA KNEW about and did NOTHING to prevent. Over 500 people have fallen ill from salmonella caused by tainted PCA products. Eight people have died as a result. Salmonella is a very serious infection and it can be fatal. Even pet food infected with salmonella can be dangerous if people do not thoroughly wash their hands after handling pet treats. Pets can also suffer from salmonella infections caused by contaminated pet food.

The worst part about all of this is PCA knew about the risk of salmonella. According to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), PCA’s own tests found strains of salmonella 12 different times in 2007 and 2008 at their Georgia plant. PCA failed to properly respond to the discovery of salmonella. Instead PCA “lab shopped,” meaning it had the infected products re-tested at a different lab. The second test found the products were negative for salmonella and then the company shipped them out. PCA knew salmonella contaminated these products and yet they did nothing. Proper procedure dictates once salmonella is discovered, the entire lot is supposed to be destroyed, not shipped out for consumption. In addition, PCA never took any steps to clean their facility or other measure to prevent cross-contamination once they discovered the salmonella.

These problems have been ongoing at PCA and STILL were not rectified when the FDA inspected the Georgia plant in the month of January. According to the FDA testing, it found salmonella in peanut butter paste, peanut meal, peanut butter, peanut granules and oil-roasted, salted peanuts. But salmonella was not the only problems found at PCA’s plant. The FDA also found roaches near the production and packaging areas. PCA’s ventilation system was also inadequate to prevent salmonella contamination in other parts of the plant. PCA’s actions are deplorable. They knew about the salmonella contamination of their products but sent them to consumers anyway. Because of PCA, eight people have died and over 500 have gotten sick. These numbers will rise as more products get recalled. The FDA is still investigating PCA and more horror stories are likely to appear. Click here for more info.

RI Office of Food Protection

Health Department food safety inspection reports completed since January 2007 are available online for all retail establishments including restaurants, markets and health care facilities. These reports consist of all inspection types including routine and reinspections, illness investigations and preoperational inspections.
http://www.health.ri.gov/environment/food/inspections.php

Childproofing Your Home

Childproofing your home is a key step in protecting your children from harm. It is important to childproof your home multiple times. First before your child is born, again once the child is crawling and also once your child is walking. The best way to childproof your home is to get down on your hands and knees so you can see everything from your child’s height. This will help you find hazards you might have otherwise missed. The best way to protect your child is with adult supervision. However, these helpful childproofing tips will keep your children safe and happy inside your home:

Kitchen:

1. Stoves & Ovens – risk of child turning on the burners or knobs. Children can also open ovens and crawl inside and suffocate.

Childproofing Tip: Install locking latches on stoves and ovens. Install knob covers to prevent children from accessing knobs. Have a stove guard to protect their hands.

2. Dishwashers – risk of child cutting themselves on any knives, cups, glassware or items in the dishwasher. Children can also open dishwashers and crawl inside and suffocate.

Childproofing Tip: Install locking latch.

3. Refrigerator – risk of choking hazard from any food inside the refrigerator. Children can also open the refrigerator and crawl inside and suffocate.

Childproofing Tip: Install locking latch.

4. Cabinets & Drawers – risk of children having access to knives, sharp objects, cleaning supplies, chemicals, poisons and medications, which create a choking hazard.

Childproofing Tip: Install locking latches. Remove all poisons, chemicals and cleaning supplies from any cabinets your children may have access to and keep them locked away and out of reach.

Living Room:
1. Plants – risk of children ingesting plants, some of which can cause illness or death. Potting soil, rocks, marbles or other materials can cause choking hazards.

Childproofing Tip: Do not use any rocks or marbles in your plants. Do not keep any poisonous plants inside your home. Make sure you are aware of the types of plants inside your home and label them accordingly.

2. Decorative Knick-Knacks – risk of children receiving cuts from broken glass, china or other fragile materials.

Childproofing Tip: Keep all breakable decorations out of the reach of your children. The best thing is to remove such items until your children are older.

3. Coffee Tables & End Tables – risk of children injuring themselves on sharp corners.

Childproofing Tip: Install table cushions on each corner of the table. There are table cushions to go around all edges of the table.


Around the House:

1. Stairs – risk of children suffering injuries from falls.

Childproofing Tip: Place child safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs.

2. Smoke Detectors – risk of burns, severe injury and death.

Childproofing Tip: Install smoke detectors in each bedroom and every floor of your home. Children and babies are most at risk because they cannot escape fire themselves.

3. Carbon Monoxide Detectors- risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, which can cause memory loss, learning disabilities and neurological problems. Expecting mothers can experience miscarriages or stillbirths.

Childproofing Tip: Install carbon monoxide detectors.
4. Water Heaters – risk of burns and death.

Childproofing Tip: Keep your water heater’s thermostat at 120 degrees or below. Test bathwater before putting your child in the bathtub.

5. Electrical Outlets- risk of electrocution.

Childproofing Tip: Place outlet covers or tamper-resistant outlet covers on all electrical outlets.

6. Electrical Cords – risk of injury from pulling cords and having heavy items fall on children. Teething children may also chew on the cords and be electrocuted.

Childproofing Tips: Install cord bundlers and secure cords to prevent pulling. Install cord shorteners.

7. Doors – risk of injury to children’s fingers. Children may also be injured if they are able to gain access to the outside or closed off areas of your house.

Childproofing Tip: Place safety covers on the doors to prevent your child from opening the door. Install doorstops.

8. Windows - risk of injury from falls.

Childproofing Tip: Lock your windows. Remove any furniture or anything your child could climb on to reach the window. You may want to install window guards.

9. Toilets – risk of injury and drowning if a child falls in and cannot get out.

Childproofing Tip: Install a toilet lid lock. Never leave children in the bathroom alone.

10. Floors- risk of injury from falling on carpet, uneven surfaces and slippery floors. There is also a risk of choking from items dropped on the floor.

Childproofing Tip: Keep floors clean by vacuuming and sweeping. Pick up any dropped items or food immediately. Keep any pet food out of the reach of children.