FDA Knew Of Hazards At Faulty Plants

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration admitted it knew of contamination problems for years at various food plants from which products were recalled.

The FDA knew about problems at a peanut butter plant in Georgia and on California spinach farms that led to disease outbreaks that killed three people and sickened hundreds, The Washington Post reported. The subsequent recall of bagged spinach was one of the biggest recalls in U.S. history.

The FDA admitted that, overwhelmed by the growth in the number of food processors, the agency took only limited steps in ensuring the safety of the food.