Peanut Case Shows Hole in Food Safety

A patchwork of federal agencies failed to stop the spread of salmonella-tainted peanut butter at the Peanut Corporation of America plant in rural southwest Georgia. There were a number of elements that contributed to the salmonella outbreak that started here and swept through the country — claiming eight lives, sickening an estimated 19,000 people in 43 states and spurring an array of recalls, including TV dinners, snack bars labeled organic and ready-made meals for disaster relief.  Feb 8, 2009  New York Times