FDA Joins Criminal Investigation into Peanut Corporation of America

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration joined the Justice Department on Friday in a criminal investigation of the PCA, the manufacturer at the center of a salmonella outbreak which has sickened 529 people and may have caused eight deaths.

The announcement follows the revelation last week that the Peanut Corporation of America knew some of its peanut products were contaminated with salmonella prior to distributing them.

Speaking in a teleconference with reporters, the FDA’s Stephen Sundlof said: “The FDA’s office of criminal investigation is involved with a justice department investigation of PCA.” However, Sundlof declined to give further details of the case.

Meanwhile, the Energy and Commerce Committee has announced plans for its Oversight Subcommittee to hold a hearing on February 11 in order to examine what went wrong at the plant, as well as what the FDA and industry can do to prevent further outbreaks.

Chairman of the Committee Rep. Henry A. Waxman said in a statement: “The situation at the plant is alarming. It shows major gaps in our food safety system. I am extremely troubled by reports that the plant tested positive for salmonella numerous times but nothing was done to ensure that the product did not go on the market.”

The PCA has declined to comment on the FDA’s involvement in the criminal investigation, but issued a statement which said: “For Peanut Corporation to engage in any discussion of the facts at this point is premature.”

Source: FoodNavigator-USA.com