FDA releases tidal wave of fresh recalls

[depakid]

Source: The Oregonian

Federal officials have released a tidal wave of fresh recalls in the past 24 hours as they connect the dots in the supply chain of tainted peanut-related products. The latest 25 recalls include Walgreen's chocolate candy with peanuts, Best Brands peanut butter cookie dough and Hain Celestial's frozen pad Thai dinners, including one made for Trader Joe's.

On Saturday, Harry and David of Medford joined the recall, pulling Olympia Delight Trail Mix products, and Berkeley, Ca.-based Clif Bar and Co. pulled eight more of its protein bars. The recall has reached a fever pitch since it was expanded to include all products - from roasted peanuts to peanut butter -- from Peanut Corporation of America's plant at Blakely, Ga., where Food and Drug Administration investigators found two strains of salmonella and evidence that on 12 occasions in 2007 and 2008 the company sold food even after it had tested positive for salmonella.

In a startling revelation on Saturday, the Atlanta Journal Constitution said the president of Peanut Corp., Stewart Parnell, serves on an industry advisory board that helps the U.S. Department of Agriculture set quality standards for peanuts. Parnell has expressed dismay at the outbreak, saying his Lynchburg, Va.-based company is cooperating fully with federal investigators.

Although Peanut Corp. sold items to about 77 companies in the U.S., many of them in turn resold shipments, reaching about 1,000 distributors and manufacturers all together.

Read more: http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/02/fda_releases_tidal_wave_of_fre.html#preview

---

A textbook example of agency capture.

If Obama is serious about a return to accountability, federal investigations and criminal prosecutions are warrented here- fines alone will not be enough to deter this ingrained pattern of behavior.

[UpInArms]

1. Who Could Have Imagined This

:sarcasm:

In a startling revelation on Saturday, the Atlanta Journal Constitution said the president of Peanut Corp., Stewart Parnell, serves on an industry advisory board that helps the U.S. Department of Agriculture set quality standards for peanuts. Parnell has expressed dismay at the outbreak

[Gin]

3. Parnell must have been out sick with a stomach virus.. the day they

set the quality standards....why am I not surprised he is involved with setting regulations for his own industry?????

[The Backlash Cometh]

43. Is he a lawyer?

Lawyers are really good at snaking into positions like this.

[jberryhill]

62. No, he's an idiot

He scrubbed his facebook page recently, but I think he had an associate degree in something idiotic.

[CoffeeCat]

51. Here's the regulations that he set...

1.) Run peanut company.
2.) Say prayers to ensure that peanuts are not poisonous.
3.) Enjoy windfall profits.

[Hansel]

8. Yes, very startling. If you've been in a coma for the past 8 years.

:sarcasm:

[SpiralHawk]

37. "Smirk." - Republicon fatcat Corporate Cronies

[aquart]

9. Parnell needs to eat more peanut butter.

All from his plant.

[Yes We Did]

47. 334

That's how many products have been recalled. 334.

here is the list http://www.oregonlive.com/special/index.ssf/2009/01/recall_results.html?search=peanut&s=0&np=17

[jberryhill]

61. I posted this info last week on DU

I'm glad someone in the press finally picked it up.

[glinda]

2. Does anyone know if peanut butter types of bird suet is on the list???????

I really don't want to kill my Piliateds.

[pasto76]

7. I would make my own suet until this is over

I know everything on earth loves peanut butter, but wont the piliateds eat regular fat suet as well? Lots O recipes online.

[glinda]

22. I will go look online. They love peanut butter suet though.

[Doremus]

68. Can you make your own with regular PB?

Jif (made by Smuckers) is not made in that GA plant, nor do they get their peanuts from them.

I checked. I'd be lost in the mornings without my PB toast. :)

[sunnystarr]

42. I didn't see anything about bird suet but I did see dog biscuits on the list

and since they're adding to the list I wouldn't take any chances.

[MiaCulpa]

4. FDA inspections really fell apart under Bush's reign of terror

If I wasn't so tired tonight I'd find the article I read this week on all the cuts Bush made to the FDA, and plant inspections...damn near had us on par with China in this regard. How else could the main peanut plant have gone so long without inspections? Huge gaping holes in the roof and all the other damage and filth that has turned up there. <shakes head in disgust>

These kinds of criminals can't thrive without someone like Bush to make sure they're kept hidden from public scrutiny.

-diane

[gratuitous]

5. A "startling" revelation?

It's only "startling" if you've been completely asleep for the last eight years or you're a congenital idiot. The Bush administration was so cozy with large corporate interests, it would only have been "startling" if the business climate had gotten more consumer friendly in any way, shape or form in any industry.

[cascadiance]

6. The only thing "startling" about this is that we've not seen a lot more of these earlier...

We know about the Chinese imports, etc. being blamed on China, and probably a lot of things still brewing because we've not heard about them yet (aka mercury with HFCS, which also could be a monster in addition to its aptitude towards contributing to diabetes).

As many have said, perhaps the best thing to do in this climate is to BUY LOCAL, and buy from folks you trust in your community, and REWARD their trust with your business, which will help us out in so many ways.

Hopefully Obama can clean up the FDA so it can get back to doing what it's supposed to do, and perhaps give a lot of people jobs making up for lost time on stuff that hasn't been properly inspected/regulated.

[Spincatcher]

10. The mercury in HFCS should be a front page story...

I'm less scared about the salmonella and more scared about the
mercury.  Mercury is the most brain-toxic substance there is. 
I can't understand why there isn't more of an uproar about
this.  HFCS is in so much processed food.  And, the FDA knew
about it years ago.  Now people are not only being exposed to
mercury through vaccinations and flu shots with the thimerisol
(see Robert Kennedy Jr.'s article years ago in Rolling Stone),
it's in processed foods.  If there was ever a time to go back
to basics, it's now.  We should eat only what's raised or
grown.  Michael Pollen's books and articles are a great way to
reinforce the ideas of how we should eat.  The Weston A. Price
Foundation website is another good resource. 

[cosmicone]

12. welcome to DU n/t

[dixiegrrrrl]

16. Mercury in HFCS ???? Can't believe I missed hearing about that.

details, pls.
or suggested llinks...

[cosmicdot]

17. link to article

Studies Find Mercury in Much U.S. Corn Syrup

Corn Syrup Industry Attacks Findings, but Researchers Stick by Studies

January 27, 2009

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Health/wireStory?id=6741932

DU has a thread re the article.

[pnwmom]

19. Welcome to DU, spincatcher! n/t

[arikara]

20. Welcome to DU Spincatcher

I feel worst for the children, the ones that are brought up on todays garbage diet of processed foods, pop and candy. Then to add insult to injury pumped full of toxic vaccinations on a bi-weekly basis. Their brains don't have a chance to develop normally.

...just be aware that at some point you will be burnt at the stake here for having such opinions especially on vaccinations. I've put many of the nastiest on ignore however a new one always pops out of the woodwork to take their place.

[glinda]

23. And you can't get rid of it either

[cascadiance]

25. Welcome to DU... It's also a BIG problem in our water supply from "clean" coal!

which is perhaps why they thought they could get away with keeping it quiet, since Obama and Biden are still big on pushing the so-called "clean" coal which is an oxymoron... RFK Jr.'s been a big critic of the coal industry citing it's polluting our water supplies (especially in the northeast) with so much mercury, that there is a huge percentage of women who will have children afflicted with birth defects from this toxin.

Instead of embracing Clean Coal, Obama should have put someone like RFK, Jr. in charge of the Department of the Interior, the EPA, or something like that (if he's not looking to try and get a senate seat, which look to be taken now anyway).

[kestrel91316]

27. One MORE reason I'm glad I eat very little in the way of processed foods.

Dinner tonight: homemade bread, toasted, topped with creamed salmon with peas (cream sauce from scratch) and accompanied by homemade cole slaw, celery seed/vinegar dressing. Nary a speck of HFCS.

Later in the week I'm having homemade potato kale soup with sausage. I better make sure that turkey kielbasa doesn't have HFCS - never can tell anymore......the point being, the way I eat, I don't have to worry much about this crap. If I did, I'd be mad as hell. I'm mad as hell anyway.

Can some Republican or Libertarian explain to me again how free market capitalism prevents these mass poisonings?

[Baby Snooks]

31. Must be nice...

A growing number of Americans don't have the budget for "homemade bread, toasted, topped with creamed salmon with peas (cream sauce from scratch) and accompanied by homemade cole slaw, celery seed/vinegar dressing..." and are stuck with the cheap, processed foods. Most of which are filled with all sorts of carcinogenic chemicals in addition to mercury and god knows what else but the government protects us so we really don't have to worry about it. Right? I will make bet that some of the same carcinogenic chemicals along with the mercury and god knows what else are still in the "homemade bread, toasted, topped with creamed salmon with peas (cream sauce from scratch) and accompanied by homemade cole slaw, celery seed/vinegar dressing..."

For those who don't know the joy of poverty, the two "staples" in the bags the food pantries hand out are peanut butter and canned tuna. So the poor may die of salmonella long before they die of mercury poisoning. And as far as some are concerned, all the better. Just less tax dollars that have to be shelled out for "those people."

[Yes We Did]

46. That was a little bitchy...

:shrug: Attack someone because they can afford NOT to eat processed foods? Wow.

[Baby Snooks]

52. Was it?

I have to wonder, if you want to get bitchy, if people really realize how many people in this country are living in poverty and sliding into poverty and actually try to make a difference for them apart from going on forums and blaming the Republicans. Not many apparently.

[Yes We Did]

69. And I wonder if you are always so quick to jump to conclusions.

And for the record... that poster wasn't doing any of that. You just wanted to snipe at someone.

[kestrel91316]

53. I make homemade bread because it's so much CHEAPER than that crap

in the store. And better for me. And canned salmon is a rare treat for me. The cabbage and carrots were on sale or I wouldn't have bought them. Storebought coleslaw mix costs way more.

I shop loss leaders and sales, otherwise I wouldn't be able to eat much. So don't presume to lecture ME about "poor". I spend about $100 a month on groceries.

[Baby Snooks]

54. Then you should have said so...

You could have framed it with "and you can do so on a limited budget." Sounds shocking but some don't even have $100 a month for food. That's why they supplement at the food pantries.

[kestrel91316]

55. And you should not be so quick to jump on those of us who

are frugal for more than one reason.

Apology accepted.

[Dora]

59. "Then you should have said so," is not the right response.

"Thank you for clarifying," would be more appropriate.

You made a wrong assumption, and that's not Kestrel's responsibility.

[Yes We Did]

70. So...

You jumped all over her because she has more ant $100 a month for food? Nice.

[ManateeBob]

73. It doesnt, thats why they want TORT REFORM so badly.

That way after the morally bankrupt if not outright illegal distribution of hazardous products they can sleep comfortably knowing they wont be forced to disgorge the monetary benefit of their actions, no matter how many people are hurt or how badly.

Toodles.

[fortyfeetunder]

74. you got that right kestrel--

My family makes fun of me for cooking from scratch -- but I feel much better knowing what I can control in my kitchen. But I grew up cooking from scratch, and I don't like the taste of processed food.

I joined a co-op that sells nothing with HFCS in it, and they try to limit other stuff too.

[beac]

29. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[ColbertWatcher]

11. Any word yet as to Obama's pick to head FDA? n/t

[hootinholler]

13. And it only took the FDA a month to figure out the chain!

:sarcasm:

-Hoot

[the_chinuk]

14. Remember when you didn't hear about compromised food every week?

So do I.

Democrats ran the show then.

[the_chinuk]

15. ... and it looks like that industry self-regulation is working out just fine! n/t

[Hekate]

18. This is beyond disgusting; it's criminal. Yet another agency gutted by Bush.

Since I can't think of any swear words bad enough, emoticons will have to do...

:argh: :grr: :mad: :nuke: :tinfoilhat: :argh: :grr: :mad: :nuke: :tinfoilhat: :argh: :grr: :mad: :nuke: :tinfoilhat: :argh: :grr: :mad: :nuke: :tinfoilhat: :argh: :grr: :mad: :nuke: :tinfoilhat:

[myrna minx]

21. K&R and

:grr:

[Divine Discontent]

24. Ya, KNOW.... under Shrub - I wonder if there is notable increases in chronic diseases?

I wonder if all types of illnesses increased from 02 on?

[Rosa Luxemburg]

26. way too many recalls appliances, toys, clothes - it goes on and on

there is no excuse

http://www.cpsc.gov/

[NBachers]

28. Republicans = poison = Death

I haven't heard anything about peanut M&M's yet. I haven't had any in a long time, but when the urge hits, it's hard to say no.

[emilyg]

30. I threw mine out.

[Kindigger]

34. Go for it

I live on chocolate, and stocked up on post-Xmas 75% off candy.

I can vouch for Peanut M&Ms, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, and all the weird brand chocolate/peanut butter foil wrapped stuff from Family Dollar etc.

(unless I have some sort of lead stomach immunity)

[Castleman]

49. Reeses? Don't you love America?

About 90% of all the Reeses products are made outside the US. In fact the gigantic Hershey company will likely shutter the rest of their US plants within a few years so they can totally rely on cheap Mexican labor. About two years ago they shuttered their Oakdale, CA plant and tossing 1100 workers out, and they will continue to do so. AS LONG as we keep buying their second rate shitty chocolate. I've been boycotting them in favor of Ghirardelli, which is 100% USA made, Annabelle, 100% USA made, and the local companies. According to the MasterFoods/M&M rep I spoke to, about 90% of their stuff is still USA made, with the rest being made in Canada, but not good ol' Hershey, screw American workers, and screw those pesky regulations and inspections and whatnot. Interesting to note that in Hershey's corporate ranks, the number four guy's title is only "WalMart". Not too surprising why Hershey does the things they do. Boycott those assholes and their candy! Tell people how their good ol' "American" classics are mostly made outside of the country, tell them how Hershey could care less about American jobs, and only cares for profits, and DON'T BUY THEIR STUFF! Hershey, Reeses, Heath, PayDay(my former favorite candy bar), York, etc, all made by Hershey, and all for the profit of a company that will happily toss their American workers in the streets.

[NBachers]

56. OK- I'm heading over to Walgreens now for some other stuff

With your permission, I'll pick up some M&M's also.

[Are_grits_groceries]

32. Did EVERY peanut on the planet go through this one plant??

Something is majorly screwed with the system or we don't know the whole story. I know they resold a lot, but you have to recall every peanut product known to man??

[Baby Snooks]

33. Peanut paste...

Apparently the problem is the peanut paste produced by this one supplier which apparently is the major supplier of the paste. The paste is used in just about everything. And sometimes in minute amounts so it isn't listed as an ingredient. Minute amounts that still contain salmonella. Not enough to set off an allergic reaction. But because of the salmonella, enough to kill you.

The real problem is deregulation. Which began with Ronald Reagan. No doubt at the urging of George HW Bush. Continued by Bill Clinton. And perfected to an art form by George W Bush. Who completely deregulated the food industry. I'm not sure we really have an FDA at this point apart from a bunch of fools sitting around in Washington issuing warnings and then recalls on foodstuffs that should never have hit the grocery stores to begin with. First lettuce and spinach. Now peanuts. What's next?

[NOW tense]

35. Whole Foods to Hy-vee. All peanuts created equal.

Harry & David and Mountain Man Nut & Fruit Co.® use the same peanuts.

Uncle Eddies Vegan Cookies & PetSmart use the same peanuts.

[ekwhite]

38. Not every peanut, but many of them

I had never heard of Peanut Corporation of America before this, but literally hundreds of products have been recalled because of the problems there. Here is a link to the FDA Website on the Peanut Recall. They even have a nifty desktop widget with all of the products that have been recalled.

[tandot]

41. Kashi isn't affected

http://www.kashi.com/

Kashi Not Affected By Recall
Our products do not contain any peanut butter or peanut paste from Peanut Corporation of America. Our peanut-containing products are not affected by the recently announced recall. Please be assured that we continue to follow the highest quality standards for all of our products.

----------------------

I only eat their granola and protein bars and stay away from everything else containing peanut. They are also free of high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils. I am pregnant and one of my main sources of protein are peanut products. Eating is getting more and more challenging :scared:

[Lordquinton]

57. Check the link again

There's a banner on their page that has a link to http://www.kashipeanutbutterrecall.com/

It's reaching everything >_<

[tandot]

60. Thanks, Lordquinton. This sucks big time.

We just bought the chewy granola peanut bars yesterday. I am glad that I haven't eaten them. Being pregnant, salmonella can do some serious damage or even kill my baby.

Again, thanks for posting this. I would have eaten one of those bars tomorrow :scared:

[tanyev]

36. Oh, Parnell expressed dismay, did he? I guess that makes it OK, then.

I'm sure the families of those who DIED because of this are dismayed, too. But I bet they'd like to see Parnell be even more dismayed with some criminal charges.

[ekwhite]

39. The FDA has the authority to criminally prosecute

Or at least to refer to the Justice Department for prosecution. The question is: will they? I would say this is an egregious case - they found Salmonella in their peanut butter, and instead of dumping it down the drain, sent it out for testing at an outside laboratory. This is a clear violation of FDA regulations, and people should be prosecuted for it. I believe PCA is already going belly up, so FDA sanctions against the company itself will do little. We need to prosecute corporate executives this time.

[depakid]

40. My bet is that they also made false statements to federal officials

and may also have conspired to misrepresent their product to vendors- both of which are bases for federal criminal prosecution.

See, e.g. http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/ts_search.pl?title=18&sec=1001

[surfinshell]

44. I hope this doesn't include Skippy products

my son is autistic and pretty much all he eats is PB&J at least 2-3 sandwiches a day, makes me a little freaked out. :scared:
Certainly doesn't surprise me bottom line ... corporate America will always protect their own interests ... "F" everyone else! :mad:

[ekwhite]

67. Check out www.fda.gov

The front page of the FDA website has a link to the peanut butter recall. It should tell you if anything you use is on the recall list.

[coffeenap]

45. Here is a link to the candy manufacturers site regarding recalls:

http://www.candyusa.org/Media/Hot/PeanutButter.asp

[jbfam4]

58. thanks

This is a great site....hubby just gave me See's candy for anniversary.

[Night_Nurse]

48. Obama's on it...

President Barack Obama is ordering a "complete review" of the Food and Drug Administration after it failed to detect shipments of salmonella-contaminated peanut products that have sickened more than 500 people and may be linked to as many as eight deaths, he told TODAY co-host Matt Lauer.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/28969400/

[nichomachus]

50. In China

they would already be rounding up the firing squad.

[1776Forever]

63. I agree that criminal prosecutions should be looked at if it is within the law.

And if it isn't then let's put it in our laws to protect us for God sake. These people are domestic terrorists and they were warned!

Found this on it:

WSLS Exclusive: Daughter (Beth Falwell) of Peanut Corp. founder speaks about salmonella case

http://www.wsls.com/sls/news/local/lynchburg/article/wsls_exclusive_daughter_of_peanut_corporation_of_america_founder_speaks_abo/26182/

(snip)

On Thursday, Congressman Henry Waxman (D-CA) announced the first congressional hearing on the outbreak. Waxman says he wants to focus on the PCA owned Georgia plant. PCA president Stewart Parnell is expected to testify, as well as representatives from two labs that PCA used for testing.

Food producers in most states are not required to alert health regulators if internal tests show possible contamination at their plants.

Beth says her brother did not break the law.

“Right now it’s not a law maybe it should be but he didn’t break any laws,“ Falwell said.

PCA says it is fully cooperating with the government, and has stopped production at the Georgia plant. Peanut Corp says it’s working to make sure the problem never happens again.

As of Thursday, the Virginia Department of Health says there are 21 cases of this type of salmonella being reported in the Commonwealth.

[jberryhill]

64. Falwell? Lynchburg, VA? Are you kidding me?

Parnell's daughter married WHO?

[1776Forever]

71. Beth is Parnell's sister - I couldn't find a link between Jerry Falwell family but it could be.

:shrug:

[jberryhill]

72. She's Hugh Parnell's daughter / Stewart Parnell's sister

There's gotta be a wedding announcement somewhere. Oh, for the days of free Lexis/Nexis...

[psychmommy]

65. how about the girl scout cookies,

there is a pack peanut butter patties on the desk just daring me to eat some. i have some planters 100 cal cookies, that are gonna sit there for awhile. i can't bear to throw them away yet. i haven't had a pbj since this drama and i miss it.

[krabigirl]

66. WHat about regular peanut butter? I usually get the natural kind, but sometimes store brand natural.

Am I going to get sick also? I was eating it like every day.