Editorial (The Washington Post): More than Peanuts
More than Peanuts
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
STEWART PARNELL, president of the Peanut Corporationof America, came to Washington on Wednesday to face the music. Hiscompany is at the center of a salmonella outbreak transmitted throughpeanut products that have been linked to nine deaths and 637 illnessesin 44 states and Canada. The resulting product recall has been one ofthe biggest in U.S. history. But after Mr. Parnell, under subpoena toappear before a congressional committee, took the oath, he invoked hisFifth Amendment right not to incriminate himself. By Friday, hiscompany had filed for bankruptcy. Given the story that is emerging,it's no wonder.
More than Peanuts
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
STEWART PARNELL, president of the Peanut Corporationof America, came to Washington on Wednesday to face the music. Hiscompany is at the center of a salmonella outbreak transmitted throughpeanut products that have been linked to nine deaths and 637 illnessesin 44 states and Canada. The resulting product recall has been one ofthe biggest in U.S. history. But after Mr. Parnell, under subpoena toappear before a congressional committee, took the oath, he invoked hisFifth Amendment right not to incriminate himself. By Friday, hiscompany had filed for bankruptcy. Given the story that is emerging,it's no wonder.
The Food and DrugAdministration discovered that PCA's Blakely, Ga., plant knowinglyshipped salmonella-tainted product 12 times in 2007 and 2008. Therewere suspicions that the parent company, based in Lynchburg, Va., waslab shopping for negative salmonella test results. The JusticeDepartment began a criminal investigation. Then came the hearings ofthe House Energy and Commerce investigations subcommittee, whichreleased damning e-mails. In one message, Mr. Parnell complained to theplant manager that the delay in getting a favorable test result "iscosting us huge $$$$$." In another note, that plant manager reportedthat a previous finding of salmonella came back negative from anotherlab. To which Mr. Parnell replied, "Okay, let's turn them loose then."
Now that the hearing's theatrics are over, it's time for Congress topass legislation that would reduce the chance of another food scandal.
The Peanut Corporation of America was not required to report itsnumerous positive salmonella results to state or federal authorities.Companies need to be required to test for the hazards that are mostlikely to occur in their products, and standards for what constitutes ahazard must be devised. A bill from Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) woulddo this. One from Rep. John D. Dingell (D-Mich.) would mandate the useof a certified lab and require that the results be sent directly to theFDA. Add to that bills sponsored by Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) formandatory recalls of contaminated food and for a program to trace foodand produce from farm to fork, and you have the makings of acomprehensive approach to safeguarding the nation's food supply. Nosystem can be foolproof or error-free. But these measures would, atleast, establish a system where none exists.