How can this be....peanut plant ran with no inspections?!!

[Remali]

Unreal. Makes a person wonder what the heck is safe to eat these days. :doh:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/02/03/health/main4771637.shtml?source=RSSattr=Health_4771637

[offgridgirl]

I know I'm glad that I'm allergic to peanuts!! I guess any nuts processed in this plant could be contaminated:(

[Remali]

Unbelievable that they went all this time un-licensed (the plant in Texas). Can't understand why they aren't shut down at least till they get inspected and licensed. The laws are so messed up.

[WashingtonBay]

I don't think anything is safe to eat in this day and age.

Huge mega processing facilities and nationwide distribution of food is bad... Who knows what will kill us next, brocolli, lettuce, beef, peanuts.

And you guys are worried about Diet Coke, :D It's probably the safest thing out there. :D

[offgridgirl]

So true WB !!! Oatmeal may be safe????

[HoustonFarrier]

The laws are so messed up.

I would argue it's the enforcement of the laws that is messed up.

Steve

[Remali]

I don't think the fake sweeteners are safe at all, I don't drink them, it's just another food item in the long list of scary stuff out there. ;)

Well, hope this gets the powers-that-be re-writing some laws regarding food safety issues.

And how did I know you would say that Steve?! You really should have been a politician you know....lmao!!

[WashingtonBay]

So true WB !!! Oatmeal may be safe????

Only if you grow it yourself... and go easy on the brown sugar :D

[carla]

Hey now, we're Georgians.. we don't need no stinkin' inspections! :hysterical:

Seriously, though, this is one of the first times I've been (kind of) glad in a strange way that my son has his peanut allergy, lol.


edit: Oh, it's a TX plant!? I must've missed this new part. Well anyway, they must not need no stinkin' inspections, either.

[HoustonFarrier]

And how did I know you would say that Steve?! You really should have been a politician you know....lmao!!

:p LOL I could never be a politician...I am too honest :)

Really though.....the laws are in place to monitor (FDA)., but, because of budget cuts, and just poor govt management, things go un-done.

The kicker is, if they would use NEW technology, we could monitor EVERY plant in America, and know immediatly when problems arise...if we would modernize.

Steve

[outriding01]

You know what's safe to eat? Stuff you grow and produce yourself....

[cheval]

I think people would be surprised (or maybe not after this fiasco) how many plant are out there that don't get regular inspections.

[Remali]

I bet there are a lot of them that are not inspected or licensed. True....I wish more would get "modernized"....
pretty crazy for this day and age. Well, if they need more inspectors, I'll apply for the job....LOL!

[alittleoffkey]

The GA plant's the one with the mold growing in the corners - that's what the inspectors noticed... months before they sent out 12 shipments of peanut-stuff that they knew had salmonella. :doh:

I just thank God for my cast-iron stomach. Every one in my family gets food poisioning on a fairly regular basis... except me. And I eat the same stuff they do! :doh:

[saddlebum]

I admit up front that I have not read most of the other posts so I may repeat.

The reason this happens is the lack of oversight and enforcement. The news is about to report on the NTSB hearings being conducted this week regarding Air Medical accidents. I point this out as an example of how screwed up the government can be. A few years ago the FAA was charged with and agreed to increase oversight on Air Ambulance services. Their budget was then cut by about 80 milliion dollars. They are short on staff, funds, and swamped with work.

Oversight and enforcement in almost all industries has become very spotty. When funds are cut guess who gets cut first. Inspectors. We have lots of laws on the books, we just don't have the people to enforce them. We also have laws with no teeth.

[Remali]

Hey there saddlebum....it was just on the National News about the Air Medical accidents, I watched it and was shocked that when some refuse to fly in bad weather, others will fly. So are these pilots basically sort of forced to fly in bad weather then in these instances?

[saddlebum]

Remali, you ask a question that could take a very long time to answer. The answer is Yes and no. I guess some examples would be the easiest to use. A few years ago there was a crash in either Georgia or one of the Carolinas. The helicopter that crashed was the 5th on that had been called. The four prior had all turned down the flight due to weather. The pilot that crashed was unaware that four others had already said "NO". Had he known that he probably would have said no as well.

The weather reporting system in this country has really big holes in it. The aviation weather system was designed for airplanes, not helicopters. So they have reporting tools at airports and metropolitan areas. Small towns, small airports, and places in between may not have weather reporting. The result is many times we take off knowing that we may run in to bad weather and have to turn around. We use night vision goggles here and they help us see the clouds and fog before we get into it. The crash I referenced did not have goggles so the guy probably didn't see it. Once you get in it you have to rely on some other skills and if you aren't prepared you are in deep trouble. I could go on about this for a long time. There are other pressures to fly that come from competition, and from the make up of the pilot and crew. Bunch of type "A" gotta getter done types.

I don't want to minimize anything but it is not as dangerous as the news media is trying to make it sound. There are litterally thousands of flights every week both day and night. You won't hear about them on the news because everyone makes it, including the patient who would have died without the helicopter. Ok, off the soap box.

[Remali]

It sounds like the night vision goggles are real life-savers. I think the crash I heard about on TV was not using the night vision goggles. Glad that you have them.

If I were a pilot, I sure would like to be aware if any others had previously turned down the flight due to bad weather. And, sounds like better weather reporting for helicopters is sure in order.

[starkitten]

well to be honest I've had gastric bypass (I know it isn't popular) and I live off PB... I really dont
like meat except for cow..... I've survived - LOL

ETA: My BIL reminds about the peanut scare all the time - he asked me if death was worth it - whatever - hehehehehehe