The AP (2/12) reported that Dr. Stephen Sundlof, the head of the FDA’s food safety center, said that following the “deadly salmonella outbreak,” the government may single out peanut butter for “special attention.” While currently inspectors collect samples of peanut butter for bacterial testing only if officials suspect a problem, they would start doing so “whenever they go into a facility.” Sundlof also said that “the government is weighing whether to classify peanut butter as a high-risk food,” which would mean “producers would be required to follow written food safety plans to prevent contamination.”
From the American Association for Justice news release.