Plant that caused Salmonella had a poor sanitation history

The New York Times reported that the Blakely, Georgia plant that the CDC believes caused the outbreak of Salmonella in the U.S. had a history of cleanliness problems.  It was cited repeatedly in 2006 and 2007 for "dirty surfaces", "grease residue" and "dirt buildup" throughout the plant and 2008 inspection reports found the plant "repeatedly in violation of cleanliness standards". 

The State Agriculture Department [which inspected the plant on behalf of the FDA] found areas of rust that could flake into food, gaps in warehouse doors large enough to accommodate rodents, unmarked spray bottles and containers and numerous other violations of regulations intended to prevent contamination of food.  It has now been shut down.  The phrase "not properly cleaned and sanitized" is found throughout the inspection reports reviewed by the New York Times in response to an open-records act request.   

The salmonella outbreak caused by the plant has now killed at least seven people and made another 500 people ill.  We'll probably get peanut paste from unregulated factories in China from now on.