Dallas injury attorney-Witherite-states Texas food plant operates uninspected.
Dallas, TX (AmericanInjuryNews.com)–The Associated Press released shocking news, possibly effecting the safety and health of all Texans, on Tuesday. Peanut Corp. of America, peanut processing plant in Plainview, has been operating unlicensed and uninspected by federal and state health inspectors for years. Peanut Corp. of America has a peanut processing plant in Blakely, Georgia that federal health officials, with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) www.fda.gov and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) www.cdc.gov, have linked to a nationwide epidemic salmonella outbreak.
Texas health records reveal the Plainview peanut plant was never inspected until the company became a target of the federal investigation by the FDA. This raises serious questions for Texas consumers because the FDA, in agreement with the Texas legislature, relies on Texas health officials to police and evaluate food safety. Apparently, officials with the Department of State Health Services in Texas were unaware the plant existed even though Peanut Corp. of America is registered with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Texas state records show the plant has been registered since 2005 and has operated without a license or inspection by state health officials. The state of Texas requires food manufactures be routinely inspected and licensed every two years.
The peanut plant is registered as a food processing plant with the FDA, as required by the Bioterrorism Act of 2002, but according to former FDA officials the database is unreliable. Texas health officials say there is not enough money or inspectors to police food companies who fail to obtain their state required two year licenses. Plant officials claim they sent the appropriate Texas state forms to Peanut Corp. of America’s Virginia headquarters. Health inspectors investigating the Plainview plant found some unsanitary conditions, but no evidence of salmonella. The company also provided internal laboratory tests results dating back to November 2008 which were negative for salmonella and other food contaminants. Food service manufacturers are required by federal and state laws to abide by national food safety standards and guidelines. When government health and law standards are not followed, innocent consumers can suffer damages and injuries like salmonella food poisoning. Since last September over 500 people have become seriously ill and 8 have died because of salmonella poisoning.
AmericanInjuryNews.com by Dallas Injury Lawyer Amy K. Witherite
Practice areas: Personal Injury Lawsuits
Amy Witherite. Eberstein & Witherite, LLP. 3100 Monticello Avenue, Suite 500. Dallas, TX 75205 – Toll Free: (888) 407-6669 News Source: http://www.americaninjurynews.com – Press Release Distribution
