According to an article by Dan Flynn published in Food Safety News on October 31st, a plant  operated by J.M. Smucker Company in Lexington, KY was responsible for an outbreak of Salmonella Senftenberg The event was responsible for 21 confirmed cases in 17 states, resulting in four hospitalizations.

According to information obtained from the FDA through a Freedom of Information request, it was ascertained that in 2010, an FDA inspection of the plant Salmonella isolates with gene sequence identical to a patient.  In a subsequent inspection in May 2022, the company was failed to respond to the presence of Salmonella in product.  At issue were two defective peanut roasters installed in November and December 2021, respectively.  Subsequently, during February 2022, Salmonella was isolated from ready-to-eat peanut butter.

Plant management were aware of the problem but failed to report the reasonable probability that their product could result in an adverse health consequence or to take appropriate corrective action.

It remains to be seen whether criminal action will be taken against the company and either management or quality assurance personnel. The circumstances involved are reminiscent of the deficiencies and actions at the Peanut Corporation of America, Blue Bell Creamery or more recently, the Abbott Nutritional Products infant formula plant.