There were hundreds, if not thousands, of food recalls last year due to unsanitary conditions at food processing plants in the United States and other countries from which we import food. So, which foods sickened Americans most in 2008?

CDC Report According to the CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease Control) Report, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly, salmonella remained the most common form of food poisoning that sickened Americans in 2008. Campylobacter and shigella, both bacterial infections, were second and third respectively. So, which food topped the list? If you said peanut butter, you’d be wrong…

1. Mexican hot peppers and tomatoes. First identified in New Mexico and Texas, a salmonella outbreak reportedly sickened over 1,400 Americans.
2. Peanut butter. Although likely to top the list next year, the peanut butter salmonella outbreak sickened nearly 700 Americans in 2008. The outbreak affected people in nearly every state and was responsible for nine deaths.
3. Honduran cantaloupes. A salmonella outbreak in 16 states sickened over 50 people.

How could this happen?

While most people wonder how salmonella poisoning could happen in this day and age, the truth of the matter is that the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) simply doesn’t have enough staff to adequately inspect all of the food that is produced. Although the FDA is supposedly getting a major facelift under the Obama Administration, it’s still too early to see any concrete results. The FDA has said that it has added over 150 additional inspectors and more than 30 additional scientists and consumer officers to help control food safety issues. However, the FDA may not be the only one to blame…

Peanut Corporation of America

Virginia based Peanut Butter Corporation of America (PCA) was responsible for the salmonella outbreak that wreaked havoc with many products made with peanut butter in 2008 and 2009. In fact, product recalls continue to be announced nearly every day. The problem stems from unsanitary conditions at PCA’s peanut processing plants. In this case, the FDA had delegated inspection authority to a division of the State of Georgia. However, the State was also negligent with its inspections. So, who are the victims suing?

Product liability lawsuits

At least a dozen product liability lawsuits have been filed against PCA over the unsanitary conditions of their plants and more are likely to be filed in 2009. If you’ve been injured due to peanut salmonella, contact a products liability attorney to discuss your situation and evaluate your options.