Judge extends deadline for claims against Peanut Corp. of America

A federal bankruptcy judge in Virginia has extended the deadline for people seeking claims against the failed Peanut Corp. of America.

The new deadline is Oct. 31.

Last year, the company was exposed for shoddy conditions at its two peanut processing facilities – in Georgia and Texas. An open jar of peanut butter at a cafeteria in Minnesota led to a nationwide recall of thousands of products that used PCA’s peanut butter or peanut paste. Products manufactured as far back as January 2007 were recalled on fears they were contaminated with salmonella.

By last Friday, according to Associated Press, 252 damage claims worth more than $207 million have been filed against the company.

At least nine deaths have been linked to salmonella-contaminated products which got peanuts from PCA. More than 700 officials reports of illness have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control but it is believed more than 20,000 could have gotten sick eating contaminated products.