The Georgia House of Representatives today considers proposed legislation to strengthen food safety rules in that state. Among other things, Senate Bill 80 includes a provision that would require food makers to alert state inspectors within 24 hours if a plant’s internal tests show products are tainted. Experts say no other state has such a rule.
The bill already has passed the Georgia Senate. House approval would mean Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue soon could sign the bill into law.
The bill was introduced following the salmonella outbreak linked to Peanut Corporation of America. Investigators say the company knowingly shipped salmonella-laced products even after PCA’s internal tests showed the products were tainted. State law did not require the company to share those test results.