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According to the FDA, the Plainview Milk Products Cooperative has announced a voluntary recall of various milk products following the discovery of potential Salmonella contamination. The recall includes all instant nonfat dried milk, whey protein, fruit stabilizers, and gums (thickening agents) produced by the company during the past two years at its facility in Plainview, Minnesota. Click on the following link to view a copy of the FDA News Release.

The investigation which led to the recall is an interesting example of the ways in which the governmental agencies, which oversee the food industry, can and do work together to identify any potential problems which may arise. The investigation began when the USDA found Salmonella in 100-gram pouches of Dairyshake powder that were not for retail sale. The USDA then alerted the FDA, who later discovered salmonella on some of the processing equipment used in the Plainview plant. The FDA conducted the investigation in collaboration with USDA, CDC, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, and various state and local health departments.

The products which were voluntarily recalled have not been linked to any illnesses, nor did they reach consumers directly. Rather, they were sold to other downstream companies, which then used the ingredients to process other foods.

We will, of course, continue to report on continuing developments.

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As recalls continue following the discovery in early January 2009 of Salmonella Typhimurium in peanut butter produced by the Peanut Corporation of America (“PCA”) in Blakely, Georgia, the Texas Department of State Health Services (“TDSHS”) has now confirmed that Salmonella was also isolated from peanut meal produced at PCA’s Plainview, Texas facility. Doug McBride, a spokesman for the TDSHS, also confirmed that the sample was the same strain as the ongoing nationwide outbreak.

PCA voluntarily closed its Plainview facility weeks ago, after a private lab sample showed likely Salmonella contamination. Soon thereafter, Texas health officials ordered a recall of all products ever produced at the facility since its opening in March, 2005.

As we reported earlier, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment had previously linked as many as six illnesses (that were associated with the national outbreak) to products distributed from PCA's Plainview facility. Additionally, an open container of Vitamin Cottage fresh ground peanut butter, made from raw materials produced at the Texas plant, had previously tested positive for the outbreak strain as well.

PCA also recently announced, in its latest Press Release, that because of continuing bankruptcy proceedings, it is no longer able to communicate with customers of recalled products. As a result, PCA customers should contact FDA Recall Coordinators regarding the proper disposition of any recalled products.

To date, over 2,600 consumer products have been affected by the continuing recalls. The national outbreak is believed to have sickened over 650 people in 45 states, and is suspected of contributing to as many as nine deaths. For the latest information, visit the FDA Peanut Butter Recall Website.  We, of course, will continue to report additional developments as well.

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As many as six cases associated with the ongoing Salmonella outbreak may have been traced to products produced at PCA's Plainview, Texas production facility. According to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, these individuals reported exposure to peanut butter distributed by the Lakewood-based Vitamin Cottage. In turn, an open container of Vitamin Cottage fresh ground peanut butter, made from peanuts distributed from the Texas facility, tested positive for the outbreak strain of Salmonella. Because the container was opened, however, it is not yet known if the peanut butter was potentially contaminated at the Texas facility, or if the product was cross-contaminated with the outbreak strain after distribution (learn how food-borne illnesses and outbreaks are tracked). Vitamin Cottage, in a Recall Notice, announced last week that it was recalling these products.

It is estimated that, since opening in March 2005, PCA's Plainview, Texas facility produced and distributed about one-third of the volume of products that were distributed from the company's Blakely, Georgia plant.  Although Salmonella has not yet been isolated from any non-opened products distributed from the Plainview facility, it has been reported that truck loads of raw peanuts from PCA's Georgia facility were previously sent to the Texas plant.  Currently, the FDA is still waiting on lab confirmation from numerous product and environmental samples taken from the facility determine the extent, if any, of potential contamination. 

In addition to operating plants in Georgia and Texas, PCA also operated a facility in Virginia. The FDA has completed a comprehensive inspection of the Virginia plant, and has reported that all lab results were negative for Salmonella. Although PCA closed this facility following its bankruptcy announcement on February 13, 2009, the FDA has not taken any action against the Virginia plant or any of the products produced there.

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On Monday, February 9, 2009, the Plainview Peanut Co., a subsidiary of Peanut Corporation of America (“PCA”), voluntarily halted operations at its Plainview, Texas production facility pending the resolution of continuing governmental investigations.

On Thursday, February 12, 2009, the Texas Department of State Health Services announced, in a News Release, that it has ordered a recall of all products ever produced at the facility. The order followed the discovery of various sanitary issues identified in the plant.  The following day, on Friday, February 13, 2009, PCA formally declared bankruptcy.

The newest recall follows PCA's announcement, on January 28, 2009, that it was recalling all peanuts, peanut meal, peanut paste and peanut butter, distributed from it's Blakely, Georgia facility since January 2007.  PCA has now recalled all products, including peanut meal, granulated peanuts and dry roasted peanuts, produced and distributed from the Plainview, Texas facility since March 2005.   

Earlier, investigators reported that the Plainview facility had been operating for years without any inspections or licensure from the state. As the FBI continues its criminal probe into PCA's operations, we will continue to report new developments.  

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As the investigation into the Peanut Corporation of America (“PCA”) continues, it has been reported that salmonella was isolated from various product samples manufactured by a PCA subsidiary in Plainview, Texas. The facility, operated by the Plainview Peanut Company, issued a press release following its closure yesterday at the request of the FDA and Texas Department of State Health Services. Early reports indicate that the facility agreed to halt operations ahead of an announcement that salmonella may have been found at the site. Although the pathogen was reportedly isolated from certain product samples, officials have also stated that, at this point, it does not appear that any of the tested products reached consumers. The Plainview production facility, like PCA’s Blakely, Georgia facility, produces peanut meal, granulated peanuts and dry roasted peanuts.

As we reported previously, federal officials are continuing their criminal investigation into PCA operations. The closing of PCA’s Plainview facility comes only one day after the FBI executed search warrants at both PCA’s production facility in Blakely, Georgia, and and its headquarters in Lynchburg, Virginia. To date, the ongoing outbreak may have sickened as many as 550 people, and may have contributed to as many as eight deaths. The recalls which followed (and continue to this day) have affected more than 1,800 consumer products.

Congressional hearings on the outbreak and recalls are scheduled to occur tomorrow, and we will continue to report on emerging developments.

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