Supplier of tainted peanut butter suspended from federal contracts

[lanlady]

Source: Government Executive

Supplier of tainted peanut butter suspended from federal contracts
By Robert Brodsky [e-mail] February 6, 2009

The company at the center of a probe into a nationwide outbreak of food poisoning from tainted peanut butter has been banned from doing business with the federal government, the Agriculture Department announced on Thursday.

Peanut Corporation of America and its subsidiary, Tidewater Blanching LLC, have been suspended for one year from receiving prime- or sub-contracts from any federal agency, and from participating in any federal program.

USDA also has started the process of debarring the company, which would carry a stiffer penalty of a three-year ban on government business (the one-year suspension would be included in those three years).

The company reportedly sold tainted peanuts to private sector distributors and to the government even after internal tests showed that its products were contaminated with Salmonella bacteria. The outbreak has spread to 43 states and has killed eight people and sickened 575 others, federal officials said.

Read more: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0209/020609rb1.htm

[acmavm]

1. So, the ban is for a possible total of 3 years? How about FOREVER?

They're killers. I know that sounds a little dramatic but that's exactly what they are. And they didn't care.

[Romulox]

8. It's not dramatic at all. What the plant owners did was manslaughter, at bare minimum

If they aren't prosecuted, it will only be because the rich buy off our legal system.

[salguine]

2. But the company CEO made a big fat campaign contribution to whomever was supposed to

be providing oversight, and the problem went away, and nothing ever happened! The End.

[Pharlo]

3. While I'm appalled at the heinous crime here,

this slap on the wrist is an egregious affront to this company when compared to the 35 million dollar contract awarded to KBR after they electrocuted US military personnel in the Middle East.

Until this government starts going after company executives and holding them responsible for their 'managerial decisions', this type of behavior is going to continue.

Isn't that the justification for the exorbitant pay for executives? To make managerial decisions and take responsibility for the consequences?

I say it's time for the bastards to start earning their pay. The US DOJ can start with KBR and Peanut Corporation of America.

[bulloney]

4. Another example of closing the barn door after the horse escapes.

[AlbertCat]

5. Well, at least they didn't electrocute anyone!

Go KBR!!!!!!!

[dcindian]

6. I guess he just wasn't as big as KBR

Too bad for him.

[Romulox]

7. Errr, shouldn't our government prevent them from selling peanut-butter to ANYONE?

You know, because of the deaths. :shrug:

[City Lights]

9. Suspended from federal contracts?

Pathetic.

How about a stay in the Big House? :argh: