PCA Closes Texas Plant After Traces Of Salmonella Found In Processed Peanut Samples
>> Wednesday, February 11, 2009
The Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) has closed its peanut processing plant in Plainview, Texas after state health officials found salmonella in samples of peanut products taken from the facility.
PCA closed the factory on Monday after samples of roasted peanuts, peanut meal and granulated peanuts taken from the plant last week tested positive from salmonella bacteria, said Texas Department of State Health Services spokesman Doug McBride, according to the Washington Post. The department is doing further tests on the samples to confirm its findings, McBride said.
McBridge said roasted peanuts that were shipped out of the plant have been recalled on Monday before reaching consumers.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is also investigating the plant, which has been operating since 2005 without a permit and has never been visited by health inspectors.
The closure of the Texas plant leaves PCA with only its Lynchburg, Virginia plant operating. Its plant in Blakely, Georgia was closed last month after health inspectors found peanut butter there to be contaminated with salmonella and the facility to be unsanitary.
The FDA traced the salmonella outbreak in 44 states that killed eight people and sickened 600 others to bacteria-tainted peanut butter made at PCA's Georgia plant. On Monday, FBI agents raided the plant for evidences.
PCA is facing lawsuits from victims of the salmonella poisoning.
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