Letters

Re “Ex-employees describe peanut plant as ‘filthy.’ ” Feb. 7

All I keep hearing about is what’s wrong with Food and Drug Administration food inspection techniques. But according to workers at Peanut Corp. of America, unsanitary conditions had existed in its peanut butter processing operation for a very long time.

Why did they not report it? It’s a no-brainer: Whistle-blowers often lose their jobs and sometimes are blacklisted for future employment.

Workers in any organization affecting public health should be the first line of defense in the guarantee of health safety. Congress should pass a law requiring that when a company mistreats a legitimate whistle-blower, it must pay the worker’s pay and Social Security contributions through age 65. Simple as that. This would prevent a lot of illness and deaths.

Roger Newell

San Diego