FDA warns Peanut Corp. of America products still linger in market

ROCKVILLE, Md. Though Peanut Corp. of America has all but ceased to exist, its ghost lingers on in the American food industry.

The Food and Drug Administration issued a warning Monday against eating peanuts and related products sold by Irvington, N.J.-based Westco Fruit and Nuts after they were linked to recalled peanuts from PCA. The FDA has requested that Westco voluntarily recall all products containing peanuts from PCA because they may contain Salmonella bacteria. The agency said that between Nov. 19 and Dec. 30, Westco received three shipments of Oil Roasted Salted Redskin Jumbo Peanuts from PCA’s processing plant in Blakely, Ga.

Lynchburg, Va.-based PCA went out of business last month after widespread Salmonella contamination and unsanitary practices discovered at the Blakely plant and another plant in Texas. The contamination has been linked to nearly 700 illnesses and possibly nine deaths in 46 states.