Georgia Food Safety Law Enacted in Wake of Peanut Butter Deaths Not Being Strictly Enforced

ATLANTA, Ga. – A state food safety law requiring food processors in Georgia to conduct regular, internal tests and report the results isn’t being strictly enforced, reports The Florida Times-Union.

The law, passed in 2009, was enacted in the wake of nine deaths from tainted peanut butter from a Georgia facility, according to the newspaper. It requires the states 740 food processors to report any positive tests to the Department of Agriculture, though small operations and those with approved safety plans are exempt, the Times-Union reported.

State auditors found upon a review that in the first 30 months, food processors have reported seven positive tests, far below expectations.

State Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black, in charge of enforcing the law, told the Times-Union that steps have been taken to improve inspections.

Read more at Jacksonville.com

(Source: The Florida Times-Union)