Peanuts Scrutinized on Capitol Hill
By: Import User
Updated: February 11, 2009
The head of the Georgia peanut company behind the salmonella outbreak has been forced to appear before Congress today.
At the last minute, late Tuesday afternoon, the House subcommittee investigating this outbreak subpoenaed the head of Peanut Corporation of America to face some of the victims and explain why he shipped products that the government says he knew were contaminated.
Jacob Hurley, 3, is one of 550 people who got sick from tainted peanut butter. Eight others died. Hurley's father testifies today, as Congress looks into why the Peanut Corporation of America shipped products after internal tests came up positive for salmonella 12 times.
So far 1,900 products have been recalled.
E-mails show the company's president complained holding shipments, based on positive tests, was costing him huge amounts of money. He eventually ordered the plant to "turn them loose."
"These documents are very disturbing," said Representive Henry Waxman. "What they show is this company cared more about its financial bottom line, than it did about the safety of its customers."
Company president Stewart Parnell is here today, but he's expected to plead the Fifth.
Congress also wants to know if the government did its job. The company's plants in Georgia and Texas have both tested positive for salmonella. But before this outbreak, the Texas plant had never been inspected. Both are now closed.
The last Congress held eight food safety hearings, but never passed any new laws. One of the things they'll look at today is whether new laws are needed, or whether what's on the books should be better enforced.
At the last minute, late Tuesday afternoon, the House subcommittee investigating this outbreak subpoenaed the head of Peanut Corporation of America to face some of the victims and explain why he shipped products that the government says he knew were contaminated.
Jacob Hurley, 3, is one of 550 people who got sick from tainted peanut butter. Eight others died. Hurley's father testifies today, as Congress looks into why the Peanut Corporation of America shipped products after internal tests came up positive for salmonella 12 times.
So far 1,900 products have been recalled.
E-mails show the company's president complained holding shipments, based on positive tests, was costing him huge amounts of money. He eventually ordered the plant to "turn them loose."
"These documents are very disturbing," said Representive Henry Waxman. "What they show is this company cared more about its financial bottom line, than it did about the safety of its customers."
Company president Stewart Parnell is here today, but he's expected to plead the Fifth.
Congress also wants to know if the government did its job. The company's plants in Georgia and Texas have both tested positive for salmonella. But before this outbreak, the Texas plant had never been inspected. Both are now closed.
The last Congress held eight food safety hearings, but never passed any new laws. One of the things they'll look at today is whether new laws are needed, or whether what's on the books should be better enforced.
