Salmonella Peanuts: Another reason to eat local

A nationwide outbreak of salmonella linked to peanuts has killed 9 people and sickened over 500 nationwide.

The outbreak was traced to a factory in Georgia. Here's a summary of what the FDA found there (from http://www.fda.gov/ora/frequent/default.htm under Peanut Corporation of America.): (the bolded ones are really bad)

• "2000 lb. totes of raw peanuts were observed to be stored directly next to 2000 lb. totes of finished, roasted peanuts in the firm's production/packaging room."
• "The above totes of finished product were stored within 15 feet of a floor crack where an environmental swab was collected...and found positive for Salmonella."
• Another environmental swab of a floor in the finished product cooler was also positive for Salmonella. "The swab location was within 3 feet of pallets of finished product."
• "Mold was observed growing on the ceiling and walls in the firm's cooler used for finished product storage."
• There were open gaps in the ceiling around the air conditioner intakes. "Additionally, there were water stains and streaks located on the edges of the skylights where rain water has been leaking into the firm. Totes of finished, roasted product and a roasted nut packaging line are located directly underneath these areas."
• "A felt material is present on the final roller at the roaster's discharge. This material cannot be adequately cleaned or sanitized."
• "The firm is not equipped with a ventilation system to prevent cross-contamination by providing a negative room pressure in the facility.
• In the production/packaging room "there is no segregation of raw and finished product..."
• "The sink located in the peanut butter room is used interchangeably as a point for cleaning hands and utensils and for washing out mops."
• "Pieces of the yellow and black caution sign on the ? mill were flaking off into the catch pan for product under the mill."
• "A mesh-type conveyor was...stored in the firm's equipment/utensil wash room, which was used as a catch-all storage area for buckets, stainless steel pipes, removable pumps, removable Y-spouts, and floor mats."
• "Additionally, the bottom sections of the washroom walls had areas of mold."
• "A live roach and several dead roaches were observed in the firm's wash room. This room is adjacent to the production/packaging area."
• "The bumper pads used for sealing the trailers against the bay doors were inadequate in that openings of 6 inches or more were observed along the sides and tops of the trailers."

And the CEO, citing the 5th amendment, refuses to eat peanuts made at his factory.