Salmonella outbreak still spreading

The number of people sickened by salmonella-tainted peanut butter from Georgia is now 628. Investigators say ConAgra’s plant in Sylvester, near Albany, is the source of tainted Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter. The outbreak was first reported in February and now includes 47 states. The peanut butter has been recalled but several lawsuits are pending.

Salmonella outbreak leads to changes

A nationwide salmonella outbreak that started at a Georgia food plant is prompting the Food and Drug Administration to make some changes. Today the FDA announced it will investigate facilities that make peanut butter and similar products more often. Sylvester-based Con Agra admits high moisture at its plant near Albany allowed salmonella to get into some of its peanut butter, sold under the brands Peter Pan and Great Value. More than 400 people around the country got sick from eating it. The FDA says peanut butter will likely rise on its list of “high-risk” foods.

Water problems cause of salmonella outbreak

Moisture from a leaky roof and a faulty sprinkler caused a salmonella outbreak at a Georgia peanut butter plant, according to the company. 400 people nationwide got sick earlier this year from eating Con Agra’s peanut butter. The company says salmonella spread in the Sylvester plant – near Albany -- after a rainstorm caused the roof to leak and a faulty sprinkler went off twice. ConAgra says it thought the plant was thoroughly cleaned, but somehow salmonella made its way into the peanut butter before it was packaged. The company faces several class-action lawsuits.