Georgia Making Tough Food Safety Law

Posted on March 10, 2010 by PritzkerLaw

The Georgia House has passed a tough food safety law that now goes to the Senate for approval of measures that include criminal sanctions for companies that blatantly disregard human health.

The legislation stems from the Peanut Corp. of America Salmonella outbreak that killed nine people and injured more than 700 others in late 2008 and early 2009. The company, which quickly went bankrupt after it was linked to the outbreak, operated its main plant in Blakely, Georgia.

According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the new bill requires food processing plants to have a written food safety plan, and it subjects those that don’t comply to a $5,000 fine and possible criminal sanctions for subsequent violations.

Other provisions make it a misdemeanor not to report positive test results for problems and a felony to knowingly introduce into a finished food or food ingredients at a plant a tainted substance. Violators could face up to 20 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

There was some evidence in the peanut outbreak that company officials knowingly shipped nuts that had initially tested positive for Salmonella. Food and Drug Administration inspectors found roaches, roof leaks, rodent infestation and mold while trying to figure out the source of the Salmonella.
 
National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen represents the families of three women who died in the outbreak and has been supporting efforts on a national scale to pass stronger food safety legislation in Congress.
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