Let's get back to government oversight where oversight is necessary to protect the American public, shall we?

This business about salmonella laced peanut products is old news by now. But the relevations about how this company in Georgia operated, with absolutely no regard for public safety, is intolerable.

Via Americablog:

A Georgia peanut plant knowingly shipped salmonella-laced products as far back as 2007, at times sending out tainted products after tests confirmed contamination, according to inspection records released Friday.

Food and Drug Administration officials earlier had said Peanut Corp. of America waited for a second test to clear peanut butter and peanuts that initially were positive for salmonella. But the agency amended its report Friday, noting that the Blakely, Ga., plant actually shipped some products before receiving the second test and sold others after confirming salmonella.

Federal law forbids producing or shipping foods under conditions that could make it harmful to consumers' health.

In 2007 the company shipped chopped peanuts on July 18 and 24 after salmonella was confirmed by private lab tests. Peanut Corp. sold products "on or after the positive salmonella results were obtained," the FDA report states.

In other cases, the company didn't wait for a second round of salmonella tests.

"In some instances, peanut products were shipped by (the company) prior to having assurance that the products were negative for salmonella," said Michael Rogers, head of field investigations for the FDA.

Jesus H. Christ. How could ANYONE actually operate a business like this, sending out product they know is tainted with something that could actually kill someone, or at least make someone very sick? And Conservatives of this country don't understand why Liberals and Progressives don't trust putting oversight of an industry, any industry, into the hands of the very people who are being regulated.