CAUGHT: Feds think they have the source of the Peanut Butter plague

Since September, parents have been afraid to send their children to school with PB&J or to let them have a peanut-butter cup, due to persistent reports of salmonella poisoning from peanut-butter-based products. It took quite a while, but the FDA appears to have found the source and the violations there are so egregious that the peanut industry is calling the plant in question "a rogue operator".

The FDA inspection report is preliminary, and the agency said the findings do not represent a final judgment on the company’s compliance with food safety laws and regulations.

But the report detailed problems which food safety experts say would be of concern.

The roaches were found in a wash room next to a packaging area. And a sink used for cleaning utensils also was used to wash out mops.

Of even greater concern, inspectors found open gaps as large as a half-inch by two-and-a-half feet at air conditioner intakes on the roof of the plant. Water stains were seen on the ceiling around the intakes and near skylights. The openings were above an area in which finished products were handled. Water leaks would be a problem because salmonella thrives in moist conditions.