The peanut/salmonella debacle just keeps getting bigger ... and grosser.

The Georgia processing plant that has been determined as the source of the tainted peanut paste was previously cited for sanitation concerns. Things like dirty surfaces, greasy residue, exposed rust (in areas where it could fall into the food), and gaps in doors large enough for rodents to get through.

Do you have the heebie-jeebies yet? I know I do. The plant, thankfully, has been shut down.

Parnell's Pride and King Nut peanut butter and many products that use peanut paste from the plant have been recalled. To date, nearly 500 people have become ill after consuming tainted peanut butter products; seven have died.

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Is the PB&J doomed to be renamed the Salmonella Sandwich? For the second time in two years, peanut butter has been determined as the culprit in a salmonella outbreak.

People began getting ill with the most current outbreak in early October. Last weekend, when certain peanut butters were suspected, both King Nut and Parnell's Pride peanut butter with the lot code "8" were recalled. Lab tests on those peanut butters revealed that they were the source. Two years ago, Peter Pan brand peanut butter was recalled for the same reason.

So do you need to worry about the peanut butter sitting in your pantry? Only if it is part of the current recall.

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What's in your freezer these days? If Lean Pockets make the list of frozen goods in your house, listen up. Nestle recently announced a recall of 200,000 lbs of frozen chicken that might have been used in the convenience food, which is sold in stores across North America. The recalls applies specifically to Spinach Artichoke Chicken Lean Pockets--they come in boxes of two pockets--with a best before date of November 2009, package code of 8144 544616 and establishment number of 8144 544616. It's believed that the perps hit stores around May 23rd.

The recall was initiated after two complaints were registered about the product to the USDA. It's believed that the chicken may contain bits of plastic.

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If you're wanting to get a line on some of the most recent recalls involving food products, here you go. Trader Joe's -- a natural foods company that carries some of the best natural products on the market -- is recalling some of its pinjur product due to glass fragments being found in some containers. Pinjur is a condiment made with roasted peppers, eggplant and tomatoes.

Next up -- Harry & David (a specialty foods retailer) is recalling about 50 jars each of Oatmeal Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Peanut Butter and Cranberry Vanilla Chip cookie mixes.

The cause is a regular one in the food scene: undeclared ingredients. For those with allergies, undeclared components in food can be dangerous. In this recall, coconut, peanut, milk and sulfites were not put on some labels, and those with allergies will not have all the information they need before consuming these products.

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If it's not children's toys or other personal products with some kind of exterior paint, it's...wait for it...in the gambling hall. That's right -- some poker ships are now being recalled due to possible lead poisoning.

These high-end poker chips are made by Paulson and are used in many casinos and sold at retail to gamblers.

The problem arises when retail customers take these chips home and then the kids get exposure to them by whatever means. If poker chips can come to have higher-than-normal lead levels, then I guess every product has the possibility. At least, it is seeming this way.

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In addition to the U.S. and many other countries who regularly import food products from China, Taiwan is now on the list as a nation that is scrutinizing imports from the mainland.

It seems that China keep defending itself from critics over all the food and other product recalls in recent months, but it's all good. For a country that exports so much, you'd think there would be quality control procedures in place for universally banned substances. Apparently, that is not the case, no matter how much China tries to defend itself.

Taiwan is defending its increased inspections and scrutiny on concerns for the public health (how novel is that), and that protectionism is not the problem. Wheat, crabs and other food imports have been a problem for Taiwan in particular, but as food needs continue growing for an overpopulated planet, we're sure to see more of the problem. Unfortunately, it's inevitable.

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After so many food recalls from sources in China recently, is it any surprise that many Americans are skeptical of imported food and other products ? Shouldn't be, although in a country where 200 million+ people have to eat every day, aren't there always going to be risks?

All things considered, the food supply in the U.S. is pretty safe, although that does not absolve Chinese suppliers from being laggards when it comes to safety or American companies that have no idea of the quality of goods they are selling to consumers.

However, the Food and Drug Administration needs more power to inspect imports and recall defective ones, according to lawmakers in Washington this week. I'm not sure I agree with this statement by Rep. Diana DeGette from Colorado, but take for what it is worth: "The "system has pretty much fallen apart from top to bottom ... people are shocked by the continuing number of food safety issues we have."

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Industry professionals from the Fashion Jewelry Trade Association told a congressional committee this past week that lead needs to be a component in fake jewelry for children even though lead poisoning and other problems were possible. Say what?

But, after reading the tired line, it made sense. It comes down to cost problems instead of, you know, protecting the health of your own consumers. Basically, the quote was this: "The total elimination of lead in jewelry, particularly jewelry that is not intended for young children, would impose difficulties and costs on the industry and adversely affect quality and costs to consumers." What absolute hogwash.

that is, unless his argument that lead is harmless when covered (plated) in kids' jewelry stands as 100% true. But, we all know that kids' jewelry remains in 100 perfect condition while being used right? Sigh -- do these 'experts' live in the real world, or some perfectionist play world?

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I guess it takes more than a national recall and a few deaths to really see changes in the way food inspections are done on fresh produce these days. At least, that is the thinking behind a recent AP investigation on the matter.

Leafy greens like spinach did not see stepped-up investigations and inspections after last year's deadly E. coli spinach outbreak. Why not? Well, if there's a national standard of testing with centralized control, maybe things would have changed. Barring that, it's no wonder the differing rules are a waste of effort in many cases.

As of now, the AP investigation found that the same regulations governing farms in the central California region remain pretty much as they did a year ago -- even after a spinach contamination that killed three people and sickened more than 200.

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At last! An import safety panel released a statement yesterday that urged government authorities to work together to make a "fundamental change" in import monitoring. This after a spate of health-related product recalls in 2007 form Chinese-made products that have that country's quality practices under an intense, global microscope.

Is this a surprise? Not really, as Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt headed the panel that suggested the Bush administration have the riskiest products imported from China inspected more fiercely instead of all $2 trillion imported form that country.

Upping the inspection and scrutiny of all that merchandise would slow international trade and divert attention away from the riskiest products. I agree with that one -- plus, it's completely untenable at this time. Don't work harder -- work smarter, right?

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The war has begun. Well, the war of words with China, that is. The country has had its name dragged through the mud in the most recent 12 months, with product recalls stemming from toothpaste to food to lead paint on toys. Since it was being battered in the media all over the world, I guess the best defense was a goofy offense for the country.

State media today released information the indicated it had found microscopic worms in wooden packaging from the U.S. In addition, health authorities even said that substandard U.S. vitamin pills had been discovered as well.

So now, the order of the day is to inspect all items from any country. It's probably quite true that food-related imports from almost any country would have some minor level contamination. I'm not defending U.S. producers here, but an attempt by China to overshadow massive quality problems there won't work here. Nice try.

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Colgate released a statement earlier today warning that fake, potentially toxic "Colgate" toothpaste has been discovered in discount stores in four US states.

The toxic ingredient is diethylene glycol, also known as DEG. It's believed that whoever manufactured the fraudulent toothpaste used this chemical instead of fluoride. DEG is the same drug the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) warned consumers about 2 weeks ago, when they found it in tubes of Cooldent toothpaste, manufactured in China.

Consumers can differentiate real Colgate from the fake, discount brand by checking to see where the product originated. The fake toothpaste is labeled as being manufactured in South Africa, a country from which Colgate does not important any products to the US. Also, the packaging of the false product contains a number of misspellings.

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