Managers at Peanut Corporation of America must be thanking the country whose name the company invokes so boldly in its name: that it is not China. For were Peanut Corporation of America Chinese, managers would surely be facing the death penalty. Today officials at the FDA revealed that the Georgia plant responsible for the salmonella outbreak currently linked to eight deaths and 500 sicknesses across the country -- and leading to recalls of more than 100 products -- knowingly shipped peanut butter contaminated with salmonella.In a dozen tests over a two-year period, internal testing revealed salmonella in peanut butter at the plant, but it was shipped, anyway. The plant was riddled with four separate strains of salmonella in tests conducted by the CDC. Panicky consumers (me, for instance) have already started to forgo purchasing other peanut butter products from manufacturers not linked to the recall.
Companies which accepted shipments of the peanut butter might do well to immediately institute screening for salmonella and dangerous substances upon receipt of the raw ingredients, as it is clear that governmental testing -- and fear of criminal reprise -- is not nearly enough to protect the public health.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-28-2009 @ 4:54AM
BHarrison said...
Having strong deterrents, and swift and severe punishments are the only way to reduce the "white collar crimes" that have become rampant theoughout our society.
There are such vast numbers of people who are complicit in all of these corporate FRAUDS and other white collar crimes that it has become pervasive throughout our society. "Just because so many others did the same types of things" is NOT a viable excuse or defense.
"Failure to report a crime" is a CRIME in itself. Everyone involved in knowingly ignoring this crime should be indicted and prosecuted without exception. Frankly, I agree with the capital punishment for the management who KNOWINGLY allowed this poisoned food to be distributed. They should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law for the deaths that have resulted from their wantonly irresponsible actions.
Legitimate capitalistic profits are admirable; however, FRAUD and endangerment of the public health and safety cannot be tolerated . . . nor can "buying their way out of punishment for their guilts".
If people want a "better and improved America" than they must push for changes in the punishment of guilty individuals. People have to be held personally responsible, criminally and financially, for whatever they have done. Otherwise nothing much is going to change.
"Sparing the rod, and spoiling the child" winds up creating a lot of unethical and immoral adults. The pervasive corporate FRAUDS and other crimes demonstrates this to be an unequivocal FACT.
1-28-2009 @ 6:12AM
stihlajohndeere said...
If people like Leona Helmsley can do time for tax evasion, surely these idiots should suffer even greater punishment.