The following statement was released today by the Peanut Corporation of America, which recently found itself at the center of a federal criminal investigation regarding its role in the recent Salmonella outbreak traced back to its products.

“Peanut Corporation of America (“PCA”) continues to be deeply concerned about those who have been affected by salmonella contamination in the past weeks. The product recalls issued by our company continue to expeditiously remove all potentially harmful products from the marketplace, in the best interest of the public’s health and safety.

There has been a great deal of confusing and misleading information in the media. We want the public to know that there were regular visits and inspections of the Blakely facility by federal and state regulators in 2008. Independent audit and food safety firms also conducted customary unannounced inspections of the Blakely facility in 2008. One gave the plant an overall “superior” rating, and the other rated the plant as “Meet or Exceeds audit expectations (Acceptable-Excellent)” ratings. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the ongoing investigations, we will not be able to comment further about the facts related to this matter at this time.

PCA is second to nobody in its desire to know all the facts, and our team is working day and night to recall affected products and to complete its investigation.”