Problems grow at Georgia peanut butter plant

WASHINGTON (AP) - Federal health officials say the Georgia peanut processing plant at the center of a national salmonella outbreak had a history of problems it failed to correct.

Officials said Tuesday that the Peanut Corp. of America plant had repeatedly shipped products that the company's own initial tests found to be positive for salmonella. Peanut Corp. also failed to take standard steps to prevent contamination within the facility. Indeed, investigators have identified four different strains of salmonella thus far.

Dr. Robert Tauxe of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there was certainly a salmonella problem in the plant.

Peanut Corp. had no initial response.

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