Keeping Track of an Outbreak
With the current Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak in its sixth month, the Associated Press has released a timeline that goes all the way back to 2006. That's when the source of the outbreak – the Blakely, Georgia, processing plant of Peanut Corporation of America – first had problems.
According to the latest numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 600 people have been sickened in 44 states. Eight deaths are associated with the outbreak, including three in Minnesota.
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PritzkerOlsen Attorneys has filed a peanut butter lawsuit against PCA and distributor King Nut Companies. The suit in Hennepin County District Court alleges company negligence in the wrongful death of Shirley Mae Almer, 72, of Perham, Minnesota. Another suit is pending by PritzkerOlsen in the wrongful death of Doris Flatgard, 87, who also died with a Salmonella infection after eating peanut butter made at the Georgia plant.
Timeline
- 2006: Four inspections by the Georgia Department of Agriculture cite numerous, repeated violations at the plant. The violations include food residue buildup, storage on floors and improper use of duct tape.
- Aug 2007: Three samples taken the Georgia Department of Agriculture test negative for Salmonella and pesticides.
- 2008: Seven tests performed for the company are positive for Salmonella. In at least two cases, the product is shipped before retest is negative.
- Sept. 8, 2008: First reported illnesses begin.
- Nov. 25, 2008: CDC, working with state and local partners, begins an epidemiological assessment of a cluster of salmonella cases reported from 12 different states.
- Dec. 21, 2008: Shirley Mae Almer, 72, of Perham, Minn., dies with a Salmonella infection later matched to the outbreak strain.
- Jan. 4, 2009: Doris Flatgard, 87, of Brainerd, Minn., dies with a Salmonella infection later matched to the outbreak strain.
- Jan. 5, 2009: Weeks of investigation by Minnesota Departments of Agriculture and Health lead state officials to zero in on King Nut peanut butter in use at the nursing home where Mrs. Almer had been living. Other institutions where clusters of illnesses appeared also used the King Nut brand. Samples are taken for testing.
- Jan. 9, 2009: The FDA and the Georgia Department of Agriculture initiate an environmental investigation at the PCA plant in Georgia.
- Jan. 9, 2009: PCA voluntarily stops production of peanut butter and peanut paste at its Georgia plant.
- Jan. 10, 2009: King Nut Companies announces a recall of King Nut peanut butter manufactured by PCA.
- Jan. 12, 2009: The Minnesota Departments of Agriculture and Health confirm a genetic match between Salmonella found in the container of King Nut peanut butter and the outbreak strains.
- Jan. 13, 2009: PCA recalls all peanut butter produced in its Georgia plant on or after July 1, 2008, because of possible Salmonella contamination.
- Jan 16, 2009: Connecticut health officials confirm the presence of Salmonella in an unopened 5 pound tub of peanut butter.
- Jan. 27, 2009: FDA finishes its investigation of the PCA plant and lists problems that included shipment of products after they tested positive for Salmonella.
- Jan. 28, 2009: PCA voluntarily recalls all peanuts and peanut products processed in its Georgia plant since Jan. 1, 2007.
- Jan. 29, 2009: The FDA and CDC confirm the sources of the Salmonella outbreak are peanut butter and peanut paste produced at the Georgia plant.
- Jan. 30, 2009: FDA official announces criminal investigation of PCA.
- Feb. 2, 2009: President Barack Obama promises a comprehensive review of the FDA.
- Feb. 3, 2009: The Associated Press reports PCA's plant in Plainview, Texas, operated for years uninspected and unlicensed by government health officials.
- Feb 5. 2009: PCA suspended from participating in school lunch and other government contract programs for at least a year. Stewart Parnell, PCA president, removed from the USDA's Peanut Standards Board.
- Feb. 6, 2009: Ag Department says that it shipped possibly contaminated peanut butter and other foods to free school-lunch programs in California, Minnesota and Idaho in 2007 under a contract with PCA.
- Feb. 9, 2009: FBI raids Georgia plant and PCA headquarters to gather evidence in criminal investigation. PCA closes its peanut processing plant in Plainview, Texas, after private test detects the possibility of Salmonella in certain products.
- Feb. 11, 2009: House Committee on Energy and Commerce conducts public hearing in Washington, D.C., to study factors in the Salmonella outbreak, including the roles of executives at PCA.
