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GDA and the National Salmonella Scandal

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko; MBA, CMP™

[Editor-in-Chief]

Tommy Irvin is the longest serving statewide official in Georgia, as well as in the United States.  Since 1969, he has served as Georgia’s Agriculture Commissioner. He was elected to his 10th four-year term this past November 2006. And, according to the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s website,

Pride and integrity run deep in Georgia. Our fruit, vegetable and nut growers strive to bring you the very best in quality, variety, dependability, and value.

The site states that Commissioner Irvin was recognized nationally for his service as an agriculture leader with broad experiences and keen insights. He continues to be sought after on the local, state and regional levels not only for his knowledge and experience but also for his political acumen in working with diverse groups and individuals.

Oh, really! What about the Peanut Corporation of American [PCA] salmonella incident that is now unfolding in the small town of Blakely, in South Georgia and nationally? 

About the GDA

Georgia Department of Agriculture [GDA] was established in 1874. While it is the oldest state department of agriculture in the US; Irvin is not quite as old. And, it is not a branch of USDA; but maybe it should be?

The department’s mission is to provide excellence in services and regulatory functions, to protect and promote agriculture and consumer interests, and to ensure an abundance of safe food and fiber for Georgia, America, and the world by using state-of-the-art technology and a professional workforce. The department has 696 employees under the leadership of Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin.

But, according to current news reports, the GDA has only 16 peanut plant inspectors and is spread far too thin.

GDA Units

Units within the department include: Administration, Animal Industry, Consumer Protection, Plant Industry and Marketing. The Georgia Department of Agriculture regulates, monitors, or assists with the following areas: grocery stores, convenience stores, food warehouses, bottling plants, food processing plants, pet dealers and breeders, animal health, gasoline quality and pump calibration, antifreeze, weights and measures, marketing of Georgia agricultural products domestically and internationally, pesticides, structural pest control, meat processing plants, seed quality, Vidalia onions, state farmers markets, plant diseases, nurseries and garden centers, fertilizer and lime, potting soil; feed, boll weevil eradication, apiaries, Humane Care for Equines Act, bottled water, peanuts and other responsibilities.

The Salmonella Peanut Butter Incident

As of Friday, January 23, 2009, Irvin is alerting consumers to the recall of more products that may contain peanut ingredients, supplied by Peanut Corporation of America, which is the subject of an FDA investigation concerning recent Salmonella outbreaks.

Death Toll

For a complete list of recalled products, see http://www.fda.gov/opacom/7alerts.html
 

The following companies are recalling products:

Aspen Hills, Inc of Garner, Iowa is recalling of some cookie dough products. The products are sold nationwide in 3 lb. pails, and 3 lb. corrugated boxes to distributors who are involved in fund raising.

The following products are recalled:

Baker Jo’s Peanut Butter, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk, and Monster 3 lb. pails – Date codes: 08273, 08281
Ovens of Ashley Monster 3 lb. pails – Date code: 08273
Gourmet Cookie Dough Peanut Butter, and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk 3 lb. pails – Date code: 08273
Gigi’s Peanut Butter 3 lb. pail – Date code: 08281 Gigi’s Peanut Butter 3 lb. corrugated box – Date code: 08277
Arizona Gold Peanut Butter, and I love Peanut Butter 3 lb. pails – Date code: 08281
ABC Dough Peanut Butter 3 lb. pails – Date codes: 08261, 08263, 08268, 08277, 08288, 08297  

No other Aspen Hills products are included in the recall. Consumers who have purchased the recalled products should dispose of them. Those with questions can contact Aspen Hills at 888-273-0302.
 

South Bend Chocolate Company

The South Bend Chocolate Company of South Bend, Ind. is recalling the following candies sold under the company brand name:

Assorted chocolates in 5 ounce (Products with labels reading 121 and 121R,UPC #4482300121 are under recall), 8 ounce (Products with labels reading 122, 122DK and 122R, UPC #4482300122 are under recall), 12 ounce (Products with labels reading 123 and 123DK, UPC #4482300123 are under recall) and 26 ounce (Product 124, UPC #4482300124 is under recall) boxes. [Note: the sugar free assorted chocolates are not affected, and are not part of the recall].

Hoosiers in 1.5 ounce (Product 010, UPC# 4482300011) and 3.0 ounce (Product 011, UPC# 4482300010.  [Note:  These are corrected sizes].
Valentine Heart, 14 ounces (Products with labels reading 1020 and 1020R, UPC #4482310201 are under recall).

Additionally Christmas gift boxes (CC, CCLG, CCXL and CCXXL) and any other gift baskets may have included the assorted chocolate boxes.

The following products are also being recalled and are sold to retail stores in bulk for sales of smaller quantities to their customers: 

4.5lb Peanut Butter Fudge, Product 228, UPC #4482300228
4 lb. Hoosiers, Product 410, UPC #4482300410
5 lb. Peanut Butter Meltaway, Milk Chocolate, Product 204, UPC #4482300204
5 lb. Peanut Butter Meltaways-Dark Chocolate, Product 204D, UPC #4482302044
4.5lb Peanut Butter Chocolate Fudge, Product 229, UPC #4482300229

Replacement products that are not under recall can be distinguished from recalled products by the presence of a round gold sticker, which are placed on the bottom of the boxes and/or baskets of replacement products that are not being recalled.

Consumers who have purchased the recalled products should discard them or return them to the place of purchase. Those with questions may contact the South Bend Chocolate Company at 574-233-2577.

Rain Creek Baking Company

The Rain Creek Baking Corporation of Madera, Calif. is recalling of Sinbad and Rain Creek Baking Company branded dessert products produced with peanut butter. The products will be marked with an “exp” (as in expiration date), “best before” date or a lot code. The expiration date or the best before date will read July 22, 2009 and prior. Lot numbers are 08182 sequentially through 08366 and 09001 sequentially through 09022. These lot numbers can be found on the bottom label next to the ingredient statement:

SinbadSweets.com 12pc Peanut Butter Princess     
0 38105 10304 3
Sinbad® Special Baklava Assortment
0 38105 10933 0
19 pc Bakery and Sweets
0 38105 10985 4
Sinbad® Sweets Enrobed Peanut Butter Princesses
0 38105 10996 0
Sinbad® Sweets Enrobed Peanut Butter Baskets
0 77589 37133 0
Rain Creek Baking Company® Peanut Butter Princesses
0 38105 20013 1
Rain Creek Baking Company® Peanut Butter Turtles
0 38105 20026 1
Rain Creek Baking Company® Peanut Butter Turtle Shells
0 38105 20031 5
Sinbad® Baklava & Sweets
0 38105 20101 5
Sinbad® Baklava & Sweets
0 38105 20102 2
Sinbad® Baklava & Sweets
0 38105 20103 9
Sinbad® Galleta estilo Baklava
0 38105 20106 0
Sinbad® Baklava & Sweets
0 38105 20117 6
Sinbad® Baklava & Sweets
0 38105 20120 6
Sinbad® Baklava & Sweets
0 38105 20124 2
Sinbad® Baklava & Sweets
0 38105 20127 5
Sinbad® Sweets Peanut Butter Princess Baklava
0 38105 20128 2
Sinbad® Baklava & Sweets
0 38105 20129 9
Sinbad® Baklava & Sweets
0 38105 20130 5
Sinbad® Galletas estilo Baklava
0 38105 20180 0
Rain Creek Baking Company® Baklava Assortment *
0 38105 20211 1
Rain Creek Baking Company® Baklava Assortment
0 38105 20213 5
Sinbad® Baklava & Sweets
0 38105 21335 3
Sinbad® Sweets European Baklava Assortment *
0 38105 21339 1
Sinbad® Sweets Baklava & Sweets
0 38105 21375 9
Sinbad® Sweets Baklava & Sweets
0 38105 21382 7
Sinbad® Sweets Caffe Sweets
0 38105 22143 3
Rain Creek Baking Corporation® Baklava Assortment *
0 38105 22280 5
Michael’s Baklava Assortment
0 38105 22297 3
Rain Creek Baking Corporation® Hand Crafted Baklava
0 38105 22306 2
Items with an asterisk (*) are the only 2009 produced items (when looking for lot numbers). Consumers who have purchased the following products with the expiration dates listed should dispose of the products or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Chef Jay’s Food Products

Chef Jay’s Food Products of Las Vegas, Nev. is recalling some peanut butter-related products. The following products, in all sizes and packages, with the “Best By” dates ranging from 06/Sept/09 thru 16/Jan/10 are included in the recall: 

Peanut Butter Tri-O-Plex Duo Bar (100 gram)
Peanut Butter Tri-O-Plex Cookie (85 gram)
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Tri-O-Plex Cookie (85 gram)
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Tri-O-Plex Lite Bites Cookie (57 gram)
Peanut Butter Tri-O-Plex Brownie (85 gram)

Consumers who have purchased the recalled products are urged to dispose of them immediately but may retain the package with the “Best By” dates ranging 06/Sept/09 thru 16/Jan/10 in order to receive replacement product.

Those with questions regarding product replacement can find these details at www.chefjays.com, by emailing customerservice@chefjays.com or calling 702-450-7711. 

Arbonne International

Arbonne International, LLC, Irvine, Calif. is recalling certain lots of Arbonne Figure 8 Chews because the products contain peanut butter. The recall includes only the Arbonne Figure 8 Chews with the following lot numbers (with shipping dates ranging from October 27, 2008 to January 19, 2009):

A8296-8291 / EXPIRATION DATE 10/2009
A8331-8291 / EXPIRATION DATE 10/2009
A8331-8309 / EXPIRATION DATE 11/2009
B8331-8309 / EXPIRATION DATE 11/2009
C8331-8309 / EXPIRATION DATE 11/2009
A8336-8291 / EXPIRATION DATE 10/2009

The chews were sold in individual packages and as a component of the Go Figure 8 30-Day Program Set and the Figure 8 Ready, Set, Go! Vanilla product bundles. The lot number for Arbonne Figure 8 Peanut Butter Chews may be found on the lower left back panel of the bag.

Arbonne will replace the product with Arbonne Figure 8 Chocolate Chews or refund the money paid for the recalled product. In order to exchange the product or receive a refund, the consumer must provide the lot number of the recalled product. If Arbonne consumers are unsure if they have the recalled product, they are requested to contact the Arbonne Customer Service Center. Requests for refunds, product exchanges or other questions should be addressed to Arbonne’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-ARBONNE.

Parker Products, Inc.

Parker Products, Inc., Fort Worth, Texas has announced the recall of the following products. The products are sold nationwide in bulk pack cases as an ingredient to manufacturers and companies for private label.  
None of these products are sold directly to consumers.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup 1442
Manufactured on 11/6/08, lot code 08296, 30 pound case.
Peanut Butter Cookies & Crème Organic Bark 2348
Manufactured on 10/3/08, lot code 08277, 10 pound case.
Peanut Butter Milk Blend 2310
Manufactured on 07/31/08, lot code 08184, 30 pound case.
Consumers who have purchase the recalled products should dispose of them. Those with questions regarding this recall may contact Parker Products at 800-433-5749.

General Nutrition Centers, Inc.

General Nutrition Centers, Inc. (GNC), Pittsburgh, Pa, is issuing a voluntary recall of some Peanut Butter Soft Chews.

The recall involves only GNC Triflex Peanut Butter Soft Chews with lot numbers ending in 8275 and 8255. The product’s ten digit lot number can be found on the bottom of the product’s package. No other GNC brand products have been impacted by the recall. Those who have purchased the recalled product should discard it. Consumers with questions or who would like a refund may contact GNC’s Customer Service at 888-462-2548.

Jimmy’s Chocolate Chip Cookies, Inc.

Jimmy’s Chocolate Chip Cookies, Inc., Fair Lawn, N.J. is recalling certain packages of cookies that have peanut butter as an ingredient. The products subject to recall include Jimmy’s Cookies and One Smart Cookie Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk cookies in retail pack sizes 4 oz, 12.5 oz, and 18 oz. and cookie dough in 15 lb, 20 lb and 25 lb foodservice pack sizes with pack dates 12/4/08 – 1/14/09. No other Jimmy’s Cookies or One Smart Cookie retail packages are included in this recall. Jimmy’s Cookies and One Smart Cookie brands are distributed in most Eastern, Southern and Midwestern states through supermarket in store bakeries, convenience stores and lunch trucks.  The packaging is clear plastic, round, rectangular, or octagonal, with a label bearing the brand name. Consumers who have purchased the recalled cookies should either discard or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Questions may be directed to the company at 800-937-5050.

Trader Joe’s

Trader Joe’s of Monrovia, Calif. is recalling three peanut butter-related products. The recalled products include private label Peanut Butter Chewy Coated & Drizzled Granola Bars, 7.4-ounce (UPC 88713), Nutty Chocolate Chewy Coated & Drizzled Granola Bars 7.4-ounce (UPC 88721) and Sutter’s Formula Cookies, 16-ounce (SKU 00176).

The affected Sutter’s Formula Cookies were sold only in Trader Joe’s stores located in Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada. The Peanut Butter Chewy Coated & Drizzled Granola Bars and Nutty Chocolate Chewy Coated & Drizzled Granola Bars were sold at Trader Joe’s stores nationwide.

Consumers who have purchased these items (any date code) are urged to return them to any Trader Joe’s for a full refund.  Those with questions may contact Trader Joe’s Customer Service at 626-599-3817.

As of Jan 24, 2009 – The peanut butter salmonella outbreak has now killed at least eight people, and sickened 550 others in 43 states. A Minnesota woman in her eighties is the latest victim. Enough is enough!

Assessment

I studied, if you can call it that, almost 15 years ago for my Georgia State insurance license. Then, as is now, there was only one question about the GDA. The answer was always the same; Irvin. He was one powerful dude in the sticks of South Georgia and usually ran unopposed for his position [think Boss Hogg in the “Dukes of Hazard”]. But now, we ask that you call and demand the resignation of Tommy Irvin. After 40 years, he deserves the rest; and so do we. We sure don’t need any more RIPs.

Georgia Department of Agriculture
19 Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr, SW
Atlanta, Georgia  30334

Tele: (404) 656-3645
Toll Free: (800) 282-5852
TTY: (404) 657-8387

Furthermore, if you call the Georgia Department of Agriculture during regular business hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., you will always be greeted by a person, not a machine:

“We believe when you contact your Department of Agriculture, you should be able to talk directly to a person who can give you the individual attention that you deserve and expect.”

Industry Index Indignation Rating: 90

Conclusion

And so, your thoughts and comments on this Medical Executive-Post are appreciated. Tell the live-person at the GDA that “Irvin must go”; or leave a message on their new machine. Of course, defenders of Irvin are also asked to opine, and defend him, in good-faith. Perhaps former President Jimmy Carter will chime-in on the Irvin controversy?

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Filed under: Breaking News, Ethics, Industry Indignation Index, Op-Editorials, Quality Initiatives | Tagged: deaths, GDA, PCA, peanut butter, peanuts, salmonella outbreak, Tommy Irvin | 5 Comments »