Another Case of Corporate Corruption? CEO Faces 28 Years in Prison For Salmonella Outbreak

For the first time among U.S. Food Processors, CEO of Peanut Corp. is convicted of knowingly selling tainted peanut butter, reportedly killing nine from a salmonella outbreak.

A former CEO of Peanut Corporation of America will face 28 years in prison for his role in a salmonella outbreak, which reportedly killed nine Americans and sickened hundreds in 2008 to 2009.

Stewart Parnell, ex-owner of Peanut Corp, appeared in a Georgia federal court with his brother and a former manager of the company. The three co-defendants were found guilty in what experts are calling the first food-poisoning trial; Parnell himself is guilty of 70 felony counts.

Associated Press reports the jurors found Parnell knowingly selling tainted peanut butter from his Georgia plant and faking lab tests, testing for salmonella. Centers for Disease Control reported the illnesses began in 2009 and sickened 714 people in 46 states.

Parnell’s attorney Ken Hodges told ABC News, “He ate the product and fed it to his children and grandchildren. We hope the judge will take into account that stewart is a good man who never intended to hurt anyone.”

Parnell’s brother will serve 20 years while the manager Mary Wilkerson is facing five years.

Written by

Kanika Lal

Kanika Lal moved to Los Angeles to pursue her career as a host, writer, and producer. She currently works for Ora TV’s NewsBreaker where she constantly keeps up with the latest stories, writes, and broadcasts them from Ora studios. Kanika began her love for journalism at The Hollywood Reporter as a digital news producer and red carpet correspondent. She had the honor of interviewing Anderson Cooper, John Mayer, Cate Blanchett, and covered the 71st Annual Golden Globes. After a rewarding and solid year, she then took her skills a step closer to her passion: hosting. You can catch her recapping television shows under Maria Menounos’ AfterBuzz TV as well as hosting and producing a Bollywood show for Menounos’ Popcorn Talk network. Kanika thrives on self-expression, and she achieves that through Indian classical and contemporary dance as well as hip-hop. She also has small but growing acting credits under her name, as she strives to branch out creatively. Kanika thrives on discovering hidden stories and engaging with a variety of people. She hopes to have an influence in the world of arts, pop culture, politics, and science.

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