Report on conditions in peanut butter plant

I last wrote about the peanut butter and Salmonella food recall on 22nd January and almost daily at Food Safety Chat. The New York Times carried an article yesterday on hygiene issues at the peanut butter plant in Georgia in 2006 and 2007. The article states that:

"Inspections of the plant in Blakely, Ga., by the State Agriculture Department found areas of rust that could flake into food, gaps in warehouse doors large enough for rodents to get through, unmarked spray bottles and containers and numerous violations of other practices designed to prevent food contamination". It continues:

"A typical entry from an inspection report, dated Aug. 23, 2007, said: “The food-contact surfaces of re-work kettle in the butter room department were not properly cleaned and sanitized.” Additional entries noted: “The food-contact surfaces of the bulk oil roast transfer belt” in a particular room “were not properly cleaned and sanitized. The food-contact surfaces of pan without wheels in the blanching department were not properly cleaned and sanitized.”

A code violation in the same report observed “clean peanut butter buckets stored uncovered,” while another cited a “wiping cloth” to “cover crack on surge bin.” Tests on samples gathered on the day of that inspection were negative for salmonella".

To read the full article click on the link to the New York Times. The case count is now 501 cases in 43 US States and the outbreak may have contributed to eight deaths.

First posted at The Human Imprint