Family Life

02.05.09 | FL News Team

The owner of a peanut plant linked to a recent salmonella outbreak says federal and state regulators paid regular visits to the Georgia facility last year. Peanut Corporation of America says independent food safety firms also paid unannounced visits to the Blakely plant in 2008.

The statements came as the plant has been linked to a salmonella outbreak that may have contributed to eight deaths. More than 550 have been sickened in the outbreak. The FDA is conducting a criminal probe of Peanut Corporation of America, claiming the company knowingly shipped "adulterated" products from the Blakely facility.

Meanwhile, the FDA itself will be on the hot seat today as the Senate Agriculture Committee is slated to take a closer look today at exactly what the agency did to keep tabs on the company at the heart of the outbreak.

The episode has triggered one of the biggest food recalls in the nation's history. President Obama has criticized the FDA's handling of food safety, while Congress has reacted with legislation. A bill being introduced would separate oversight of drugs and regulation of food at the agency. In addition to that, the Senate Agriculture Committee is slated to take a closer look today at how the FDA kept tabs on the Georgia company