Washington, DC – Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn. -3) issued the following statement regarding the ongoing investigation into Peanut Corporation of America’s connection to the Salmonella outbreak. A report in the Washington Post found that Peanut Corporation of America knowingly shipped out contaminated peanut butter over a dozen times in the past two years. The Salmonella outbreak involving peanut butter products has been linked to eight deaths and has sickened approximately 500 people across the country.

“The actions by the Peanut Corporation of America can only be described as reprehensible and criminal. Not only did this company knowingly sell tainted products, it shopped for a laboratory that would provide the acceptable results they were seeking. This behavior represents the worst of our current food safety regulatory system.

“Unfortunately, under our current system, punishing this company to the ‘fullest extent possible’ would result only in a mere slap on the wrist because the Food and Drug Administration lacks the authority to pursue adequate criminal sanctions. This provides yet another defining snapshot of the problems that are plaguing our food safety system, and it demonstrates that extensive work will be required to modernize our regulatory structure to adequately protect our food supply.

“Because our regulatory system is broken in this area, I will be contacting the Department of Justice to request an investigation into the behavior by the Peanut Corporation of America to determine whether their actions warrant criminal prosecution. We must pursue a zero-tolerance policy when dealing with businesses that intentionally sell tainted products.”