Gov't Relies On Ineffective Private Food Inspectors

[babylonsister]

Food Problems Elude Private Inspectors

Matt Sayles/Associated Press

More than 143 million pounds of potentially contaminated beef from Hallmark/Westland Meat Company was recalled and dumped, including these products, which were delivered to the Los Angeles public schools.

By MICHAEL MOSS and ANDREW MARTIN
Published: March 5, 2009


When food industry giants like Kellogg want to ensure that American consumers are being protected from contaminated products, they rely on private inspectors like Eugene A. Hatfield. So last spring Mr. Hatfield headed to the Peanut Corporation of America plant in southwest Georgia to make sure its chopped nuts, paste and peanut butter were safe to use in things as diverse as granola bars and ice cream.

A private inspector was given less than a day to inspect the Peanut Corporation of America’s plant in Blakely, Ga., which was closed after it was linked to nationwide outbreak of salmonella.

The peanut company, though, knew in advance that Mr. Hatfield was coming. He had less than a day to check the entire plant, which processed several million pounds of peanuts a month.

Mr. Hatfield, 66, an expert in fresh produce, was not aware that peanuts were readily susceptible to salmonella — which he was not required to test for anyway. And while Mr. Hatfield was inspecting the plant to reassure Kellogg and other food companies of its suitability as a supplier, the Peanut Corporation was paying for his efforts.

“The overall food safety level of this facility was considered to be: SUPERIOR,” he concluded in his March 27, 2008, report for his employer, the American Institute of Baking, which performs audits for major food companies. A copy of the audit was obtained by The New York Times.

more...

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/06/business/06food.html?hp

[babylonsister]

1. .

[OhioChick]

2. "SUPERIOR?"

Wow....Makes you wonder what the hell we're consuming.