American Peanut Council Responds to PCAs Extended Recall

ALEXANDRIA, Va.The American Peanut Council (APC) is working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other regulators to fully understand the extended product recall announced by the Peanut Corporation of America (PCA).

On Jan. 28, PCA expanded its recall to include additional products produced in its Blakely, Ga., facility since January 2007. At this time, there is no reported evidence that Salmonella has been found in any of the newly recalled products; however, this precautionary step is necessary to ensure public health.

Although we support PCAs precautionary move to recall additional products, since the health and safety of the consumer is our highest priority, one thing is certainwillful neglect of public health and safety cannot be tolerated under any circumstance, said Patrick Archer, president of the American Peanut Council.

This extended recall follows FDA findings announced yesterday, reporting that PCA knowingly released a product with potential Salmonella contamination into the food supply.

This is a clear and unconscionable act by one manufacturer, Archer said. This act is not by any means representative of the excellent food-safety practices and procedures of the U.S. peanut industry.

FDA is maintaining a searchable database of products affected by the recall. The APC will continue to maintain a list of unaffected products at http://www.peanutsusa.com/.