Congress Grills Food Manufacturers on Safety

Major food manufacturers, including Kellogg Co., King Nut Corp. and Vitamin Cottage Natural Food Markets, Inc., were grilled by members of Congress March 19 about their lack of oversight on food-safety measures.

In particular, Henry Waxman, chairman of the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee, questioned the decision to rely on third-party audits from a company with links to the now-bankrupt Peanut Corporation of America (PCA), Blakely, Ga.

PCA is the source of the Salmonella outbreak that has sickened 691 people in 46 states and been linked to nine deaths.

As reported by FLEXNEWS, David Mackay, chief executive of Kellogg, told lawmakers his company relied on an independent audit report from AIB International, had safety tests conducted on the product and required PCA to provide evidence of its safety plans.

Internal documents released by lawmakers showed PCA was notified when an inspection was planned by AIB, the audit firm it hired, and told how to prepare for the audit.

However, a 2002 internal audit of PCA’s plant paid for by Nestlé USA found rodent droppings and dead insects and determined it was "not in compliance" with housekeeping, sanitation or pest control standards. A 2006 audit reached the same conclusion and Nestlé never hired PCA as a supplier.