Dead Rodents Trigger Recall at Texas Peanut Plant

Multiple safety violations found at plant linked to salmonella outbreak

(NEWSER) - A Texas peanut plant owned by the company blamed for a nationwide salmonella outbreak has been ordered to shell out $14.6 million for safety violations, AP reports. State officials levied the fine—the largest ever in Texas—for violations including unsanitary conditions, product contamination and operating without a license for four years. More»

Facility cited by regulators for dirty surfaces, other infractions in '06, '07

(NEWSER) - The Georgia plant at the center of an expanding recall of peanut products has a history of health violations, the New York Times reports. The salmonella outbreak that has sickened more than 500 nationwide came from the Blakely facility cited in 2006 and 2007 for dirty surfaces and a variety of other contamination issues. More»

(NEWSER) - The wide range of products containing peanut butter makes the ongoing salmonella outbreak especially tough on regulators and consumers, CNN reports. It's everywhere, from ice cream to energy bars to dog treats. The outbreak has so far sickened nearly 500 people and killed six in 43 states, and investigators expect the list of 125 recalled products to keep growing. More»

Sweeping pistachio recall rejects slow pace of peanut crisis

(NEWSER) - Under President Obama, the Food and Drug Administration is taking on a tougher, more preventative role, the New York Times reports, leading, for example, to product recalls before anyone’s been sickened. The change is evident in the agency’s handling of the pistachio scare: It warned against eating them without reports of sickness, then pushed for a recall of all pistachios harvested in 2008 by California’s Setton company. More»

Food poisoning outbreaks traced back to dangers cut-price auditors missed

(NEWSER) - The job of monitoring America's food plants is falling more and more to private inspectors who often miss hazards, a New York Times investigation finds. Plants hire such auditors to reassure customers and reduce liability, but the companies often pick the cheapest and least rigorous audits available. Some of the largest food poisoning outbreaks in recent years can be traced to plants where private auditors failed to spot problems. More»