April 10, 2007: Georgia Lawyer Visits Peanut Butter Plant

Yesterday, attorney Andrew Childers of Atlanta visited the Georgia plant connected with the Salmonella outbreak associated with Peter Pan peanut butter that first made headlines last February and sickened thousands of people. A group composed of plaintiffs’ attorneys, engineers, mapping specialists, photographers and videographers examined the ConAgra plant located in Sylverster, Georgia.

Mr. Childers, of Childers, Buck, & Schlueter, LLP, along with Eric H. Weinberg of the Law Offices of Eric H. Weinberg in New Brunswick, NJ, represents hundreds of individuals who were affected by contaminated Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter. The two attorneys are the only ones to have filed a peanut butter case in state court in Georgia, where the plant is located.

In addition, Childers and Weinberg are consulting with a retired FDA inspector to make sure that they glean all the information possible from on-site investigations of the manufacturing facility.

“We’ll be back at the plant this Friday to continue our investigation,” Mr. Childers said. “Our efforts are aimed at forcing ConAgra to disclose all of the information in its possession relating to how and when Salmonella bacteria got into the peanut butter. So far they have refused to turn over any information as to how or why the plant was contaminated. We will continue to press them until we get what we are entitled to.”

ConAgra has blamed a leaky roof and malfunctioning sprinkler system for the outbreak, explaining that moisture in the plant created an environment in which dormant Salmonella bacteria could grow. The pathogen may have been present in raw peanuts and peanut dust in the plant. How the Salmonella came in contact with the peanut butter before packaging is not yet known.

If you or a loved one has been harmed by the Salmonella peanut butter outbreak, please fill out a free case evaluation or contact us toll-free at 1-877-934-6274.  To learn about our other areas of food poisoning litigation, please see E. coli Lawuit and Giardia Lawsuit.

Add comment April 10th, 2007

April 6, 2007: Source of Salmonella Contamination in Peter Pan and Great Value Peanut Butter Uncovered by Investigation

According to ConAgra Foods, makers of the Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter that caused Salmonella food poisoning in hundreds of consumers, moisture coming from a leaky roof and a faulty sprinkler created conditions in which the bacteria could grow.

After two months of investigation, ConAgra determined that a roof leak during a rainstorm and a faulty sprinkler that had caused the indoor sprinkler system to go off twice created enough moisture for dormant Salmonella bacteria to grow. The bacteria probably originated from raw peanuts and peanut dust.

ConAgra spokeswoman Stephanie Childs said that the peanut butter facility in question, located in Georgia, had been cleaned thoroughly after each water incident, but that the Salmonella had survived and come in contact with the peanut butter before packaging. How that contact occurred is not known.

Approximately 425 individuals from 44 different states were harmed by consuming Peter Pan or Great Value peanut butter. Consumers became ill between August 1, 2006, and February 16, 2007, with the majority falling ill after December 1, 2006.

“We understand that inspectors have found the source of the Salmonella contamination in ConAgra’s peanut butter factory,” said Eric H. Weinberg, one of a team of attorneys representing numerous victims of this food poisoning outbreak. “It would be sensible for the company to deal responsibly with the innocent customers who have suffered serious side effects from these contaminated foods.”

According to Childs, the Georgia facility is being redesigned and renovated and is scheduled to reopen in August. The redesign will create greater separation between raw peanuts and the finished product, she said.

To learn more about the work being done by the Law Offices of Eric H. Weinberg on the Salmonella peanut butter food poisoning outbreak and in other areas of the law, please visit www.erichweinberg.com.

Add comment April 6th, 2007