As if it was not already apparent, it is now official that the local Georgia ConAgra food plant has been linked to the presence of salmonella in its jars of peanut butter according to the Centers for Disease Control. During the course of its investigation it has now been shown that the contaminated peanut butter has reached in excess of 41 states and 329 people thus far.
According to the ajc.com:
“Now the question becomes, how did the salmonella get in the jar,” Daigle said.
Government and industry officials have said the contamination may have been caused by dirty jars or equipment. Peanuts are usually heated to high, germ-killing temperatures during the manufacturing process. The only known salmonella outbreak in peanut butter — in Australia during the mid-1990s — was blamed on unsanitary plant conditions.
Gary Rodkin, chief executive of Omaha-based ConAgra, said Thursday that the company will take “all reasonable steps to remedy the situation.”
We shall see if Mr. Rodkin’s statement bears any truth when it comes time for those affected by his company’s negligence to seek redress for their injuries after ConAgra placed contaminated peanut butter into the stream of commerce.
