PCA Closes Second Plant With Possible Presence of Salmonella

PLAINVIEW, Texas — Peanut Corp. of America voluntarily closed its plant here Monday night after lab tests of sample products produced by subsidiary Plainview Peanut Co. there indicated the possible presence of Salmonella.

It does not appear that any of the affected products including peanut meal, granulated peanuts and dry roasted peanuts, have reached consumers, Texas Department of State Health Services officials announced yesterday. Though the peanut meal and granulated peanuts had not been shipped out of the Plainview facility, the dry roasted peanuts reached a distributor but were detained and recalled before further distribution.

The peanut processor notified the DSHS of the findings on Monday after they were discovered during testing done by a private lab under contract with PCA. DSHS, in conjunction with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, is conducting an investigation of the plant’s procedures and records of food safety.

It’s not yet known if the Salmonella possibly found in the products tested is the same strain implicated in the widespread breakout.

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