Peanut processor files for bankruptcy – so much for liability!
The peanut processing company at the heart of a national salmonella outbreak, Peanut Corp. of America, has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation in court in Lynchburg, Virginia.
The bankruptcy papers were signed by Stewart Parnell, the president of Peanut Corp., who invoked his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination in refusing to answer questions this week in a congressional hearing.
Bacteria found in the company’s Blakely, Georgia, peanut processing plant have been blamed for more than 600 cases of salmonella, including nine deaths.
The Texas Health Department on Thursday ordered products from the company’s plant in Plainview, Texas, to be recalled after discovering dead rodents, rodent excrement and bird feathers in the plant…
“It is unacceptable for corporations to put consumers’ health at risk and then simply declare bankruptcy and go out of business when they get caught,” said Jean Halloran, director of food policy initiatives at Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports.
“PCA’s declaration of bankruptcy will, among other things, shield it from liability suits filed by consumers who became sick or whose loved ones died as a result of eating PCA’s peanut products,” she said.
There goes liability, responsibility. Nothing more than a slap on the wrist coming from the Feds.
The FDA is still the FEMA of food. And the Texas versions of the FDA ain’t even up to laughable.
Disgusting, absolutely disgusting. This is more than a case of accidental contamination. Both the pant and the FDA knew strains of salmonella had been found prior to the shipments going out. I believe that criminal charges of manslaughter should be levied against the CEO and board of directors. What we have here is tantamount to willful negligence at a minimum. No bankruptcy laws should shield a company or those who run it from litigation when deaths stem from their actions.
Were it one of my loved ones that dies as a result of these despicable actions, I would be out buying a hunting rifle and making a list of where each and every board member and CEO lives. I’d then systematically kill each and every one of them as I know I will never get justice in the twisted corporate country.
Infected nut
February 14, 2009 at 7:24 am
“No bankruptcy laws should shield a company or those who run it from litigation when deaths stem from their actions.”
Absolutely. Something this reprehensible — allowing product out the door KNOWING it will cause severe health problems including death — should be a capital offense. The assets of the CEO and Board of Directors should be seized, liquidated, and distributed among the victims. It is ONLY this kind of threat that deters these kinds of immoral people. There is no excuse for this kind of behavior. There should be no leniency either. They set the tone. They want the big bucks. The big bucks come with big responsibilty.
Jim
February 14, 2009 at 10:01 am
This goes to show we can’t trust the FDA who is our food and drug protector! Ha! That is a joke. I believe the foreign countries’ products are getting safer than ours. What has happened to this country!? Go after the creeps, FDA, Lawyers, Congress and Senate all included. What were you doing? NOTHING!!!
Marilynn
February 14, 2009 at 10:15 am
Someone should be indicted, tried, convicted and sentenced for a long long time for this atrocity!
Jan
February 14, 2009 at 10:31 am
I agree with every post here (so far). Too many lawyers, not enough justice in this country.
Mark
February 14, 2009 at 11:08 am
Bankruptcy should never hide and protect Corporate wrong doing. To knowingly sell tainted items is a crime and you should have your day in court. The only reason they filed Brankruptcy is protect themselves from lawsuits. I hope the government still goes after them for Crimminal charges. But after 8 years of weakening the FDA, going from protector of the people to protector of the Corporations, what other crimes will the American people find out has happen to them, in the name of Corporate greed.
Jason
February 14, 2009 at 11:14 am
The peanut brains of these corps & Stewart Pernal should be arrested and charged with manslaughter. People have died as a result of their puting profits ahead of sensible morals.There are ample testimonies of workers and evidence about the insainly dirty conditions like dead mice and rats, bird & mouse dropings in the peanut bins ect.
But just like Carl Rove, Harriet Miers and J Bolton who can thumb their nose at Congressional subpoenas, there is realy no longer a rule of law for the wealthy or ruling class in America anymoe.
uncle jimbo - Chicago
February 14, 2009 at 3:09 pm