Worker: I Saw Rat Roasting In Peanut Plant

(CBS)  A former employee of the Georgia peanut plant at the center of a criminal investigation in a nationwide salmonella outbreak says he saw a rat dry-roasting in a peanut area.

Jonathan Prather was one of 50 people who lost their jobs last month when the Peanut Corporation of America shut down its plant in Blakely.

The outbreak is blamed in as many as eight deaths and has sickened some 500 people, authorities say. Many products made with peanut paste from the plant have been recalled.

In addition, a peanut processing plant in Texas run by the Virginia company blamed for the outbreak operated for years un-inspected and unlicensed by government health officials, The Associated Press has learned.

Prather, 29, told Early Show national correspondent Jeff Glor the facility is dirty.

Prather describes a building in which roaches were a constant problem, saying, "Roaches get up there in the dry roast. Some of them blend in with the peanuts. You'd never know they're there."

Health inspectors also noticed roaches as they searched for the source of the salmonella, saying, "A live roach and several dead roaches were observed in the firm's wash room."

But, three or four months ago, Prather says, he saw the rat "dry roasting in the peanuts."

He says he also frequently saw rat droppings in the area where peanut products were made, where Prather worked.

Health inspectors say they found "gaping" holes in walls, but didn't report evidence of rodents or droppings. They did find holes elsewhere, saying, "There were open gaps observed as large as ... two-and-a-half feet at the air conditioner intakes located in the roof of the firm."

Prather says there were "plenty of holes in the roof, throughout the roof. And when it rained, water just came through the whole plant."

Mold was also spotted by investigators, as were mops washed in the same sink as peanut product production equipment, Glor points out.

"Any of these alleged violations," Glor says, "could be the source of salmonella, which the company's own documents say was discovered at least a dozen times. Peanut Corporation of America is accused of retesting the samples, "lab shopping," until it got favorable results."

Prather says it saddens him that many people have been impacted by the salmonella, adding he's speaking out now because his mother always raised him to tell the truth.

Other employees, Glor notes, have been quoted as saying they did not see problems like the ones depicted by Prather.

On The Early Show Tuesday, former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner David Kessler told co-anchor , "If there were ever an example that our food safety system is broken, this (the situation at the Georgia plant) is it.

Kessler says, "The nation's food safety laws were written 100 years ago. And they don't give the FDA even the basic tools of record inspection or recall. It is absolutely essential that those laws be rewritten."

He added, "Regrettably, (the FDA) lacks the authority (to properly oversee the safety of the nation's food). But there are several key bills in the Senate and the House, and they're excellent bills.

"... The problem is we don't have a system of preventive controls. We're always reacting in this country. It's always chasing the horse after it's out of the barn."

Kessler says he "was very heartened to hear the new president talk about food safety as a priority, getting a new commissioner in, and quickly, who has food safety as a top, No. 1 priority and getting FDA the authority; getting Congress to pass new food safety legislation is a must."

Still, Kessler observes, "We have the safest food system in the world, but that doesn't mean it can't be safer. And each of us has responsibilities. Making sure that our food is well-cooked, good hygiene, those things are still important.

Bottom line?

"(Our food is) certainly safe, but our system is broken. And it needs to be improved, and it needs to be improved quickly."

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For the latest from the FDA on the salmonella outbreak, including an uo-to-date product recall list, click here.

[grandesign]

Seems some government official should at least be in prison for not doing their job and allowing this to happen.
Posted by kevinkkloste at 03:52 PM : Feb 03, 2009

Have you EVER heard of a government official being prosecuted for not performing their job? That would fill up the prisons, huh?

[grandesign]

"... The problem is we don''t have a system of preventive controls. We''re always reacting in this country. It''s always chasing the horse after it''s out of the barn."

This is not at all true. We have ISO certification for several industries which is a way of being proactive in regard to quality of products and services. The problem is, when some companies get ISO certification, they throw out the process and just use the certificate for publicity. Once the sales happen, and you collect the check, no need to keep the quality going.

[puzzler125]

When were his comments made? Did he wait until he would be in the national spotlight before speaking? How about telling authorities about the disgusting goings-on at your place of employment BEFORE someone is going to put your name in spotlights, pay you for your story? Do it because it''s the right thing to do and the conditions are so disgustingly unsanitary!

[Skysblue]

PCA owners = Republicans. Enough said.

[one_texan]

Our food is safe? Who do they think they''re kidding?

[swingset4u]

I worked for Cargill in Missouri processing turkeys. USDA was ALL over this plant. VERY Sanitary work space and I have observed first hand the sterility of this plant. Peanuts must pose less of a danger .. hmmm.. go figure!

[swingset4u]

I hope everyone notices that almost all of the dummies that Obama has appointed have cheated on their taxes. Most of them are Democrats.

Posted by LICKBALLS111

I don''t even have to type this just copy and paste:LICKBALLS

[swingset4u]

(unless he''''s a democrat of course - in which case, he feels self-righteous).

Posted by AJayRide

I am sure you meant Republiscum!!!

[ajayride]

msimamaji, you have GOT to be a democrat. Democrats have no morals. NOTHING exempts a man from the moral obligation to tell the truth no matter what the cost when peoples'' lives are at stake. And he could have easily done so anonymously - he didn''t need union backing to make a call from a pay phone! If your 8 year old died as a result of this idiot seeing rats broiling in the dry roaster and saying nothing, would you be empathising with him just because he wasn''t a union employee??? Your hopes and dreams tied up in that young child you made a P&J sandwich for to go to school with - perishing because the guy was non-union. Poor thing. Sure - we understand. After all, there''s a greater good than the life of your child right??? Unions and democrats ruling the nation. If he had just been union - things would be different!!! Good luck with that. Gotta love that broken moral compass. How dare you use the death of innocent young children and the elderly to justify your union priorities. The guy could have gone to the police/feds any time he wanted. He was a coward - and unfortunately, his cowardice had deadly consequences. Him speaking out now after he''s been fired is just plain wicked. Do not throw ANY sanctimony his way. He deserves the guilt I hope he feels (unless he''s a democrat of course - in which case, he feels self-righteous).

[msimamaji]

Bear in mind that workers like Jeff Glor are non-union. They can''t speak out and warn the public; otherwise, they''ll get fired. Nor can they demand cleaner working conditions. The epidemic of toxic peanut butter emphasizes once again the need for strong whistle-blowing unions. It''s a good reason for supporting the Free Employee Association Act.