Diners at Peanut Corporation of America in Blakely, Georgia were alarmed when that its peanut butter was the source of a nationwide Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak, leading to ordered to halt production and initiate a recall of more than 3,900 peanut-containing products.
Between September 2008 and January 2009, Peanut Corporation of America's Blakely, Georgia facility caused a Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak that killed 9 people and sickened more than 700 across 46 states. FDA inspections later revealed that the company had knowingly shipped peanut butter products that had tested positive for Salmonella on multiple occasions.
The CDC estimates that restaurants are the most common setting for foodborne illness outbreaks, accounting for over 60% of reported cases. Common culprits include Salmonella, E. coli O157:H7, Norovirus, and Listeria — organisms that thrive when food temperatures, handling, and sanitation aren't controlled.
The FDA / CDC reported that company executives were later convicted of federal fraud charges for knowingly shipping contaminated products. Health officials found that internal documents showed the company had received positive Salmonella test results and shipped the products anyway, and further inspection revealed the facility had known leaks in its roof that allowed water to contaminate the processing area.
The inspection was triggered by a combination of routine scheduling and community complaints. Inspectors arrived unannounced and spent several hours systematically walking through every area of the kitchen and food storage zones.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 48 million Americans are sickened by foodborne illness each year, resulting in 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths. Routine health inspections are among the most effective tools for preventing outbreaks.
Want to know if your favorite restaurant passes health inspections? Check inspection scores for any restaurant at InspectorEats.com before your next meal.
The case highlights the importance of regular health inspections in protecting public health. The company's president was sentenced to 28 years in federal prison; the company declared bankruptcy.