Claims against Peanut Corp. of America total more than $200 million

Claims against the now-defunct Peanut Corporation of America now total more than $200 million. The deadline for filling claims against the company is next Monday, according to a Lynchburg News Advance report.

Among the claims are those of the eight families who lost a loved one in connection with salmonella poisoning tied to peanuts and peanut paste manufactured at one of two PCA plants.

Product from as far back as early 2007, and potentially earlier, may have been contaminated with a lethal strain of salmonella. This prompted the recall of thousands of products containing peanuts and peanut butter – including cakes, cookies, crackers and myriad other snack products.

At least 714 illnesses have been linked to the outbreak, but health experts believe the actual number of people who may have gotten sick while eating these products could top 20,000.

Not only victims have filed claims against PCA in a federal bankruptcy court. Food companies which got their supplies of peanut butter, peanuts or peanut paste from PCA are among those seeking money from the failed business, which shut its doors after investigations revealed numerous reasons why the supply was contaminated.