Salmonella in your peanut butter

Since we have had so many discussions of how important reputations are to a company's success, I decided to investigate how a company like Peter Pan Peanut Butter could have used help from Government authorities that use proper risk management to handle situation like this.

The USDA, FDA and CDC started a risk assessment model in response to over 600 000 illnesses per year in the US from contaminated Salmonella eggs. From this risk assessment, they produced a farm-to-table model that could determine the effects of an intervention of an illness. This risk assessment process consists of 4 steps: The first step is to collect and organize all the information of the pathogen or nutrient. Secondly, determine the relationship between the pathogen and any harmful effects. Thirdly, is to determine how the pathogen may spread throughout the population. Lastly, is risk characterization which is just evaluating the risk involved.

Now the questions is, if Peter Pan makes use of these strategies; is it too late? Should Peter Pan rely on the government to fix their mishaps and make it public news or should they implement their own risk management program to prevent this mishap from happening from the start?

I believe that this farm should make use of their own risk management strategies for example, some farmers in the UK have taken out insurance contracts that covers their losses of flocks of birds that are slaughtered since they tested positive for Salmonella.

Nutrition, Food Safety, And Risk Assessment