GUILTY: Peanut Exec Intentionally Shipped Salmonella-Laced Product

After a 7-week trial a federal jury on Friday convicted Stewart Parnell, former owner of Peanut Corp. of America on 76 federal counts for conspiracy and other charges in connection with the 2008-2009 salmonella outbreak killed 9 people and sickened at least 714 others across the country.

Salmonella, a foodborne illness, sickens approximately 1.4-million people a year. In the courtroom prosecutors proved to a jury Parnell and his co-conspirators knowingly and intentionally shipped the tainted product. In fact, as part of the evidence presented, in a 2007 email to his plant manager regarding the bacteria-laced products, Parnell wrote, “Just ship it” anyways.

Co-conspiritor, Michael Parnell — Stewart Parnell’s sibling and food broker, was also found guilty on several counts while Peanut Corp.’s plant quality control manager, Mary Wilkerson, was convicted on one count for obstruction of justice.

CNN Reports,

Federal prosecutors presented more than 1,000 documents and called 45 witnesses to the stand to make their case that Parnell, his brother and Wilkerson cut corners on safety in order to make a bigger profit for Peanut Corp. They were accused of covering up lab results that tested positive for salmonella in their peanut products.

When Federal inspectors raided the plant they dirty facilities rife with dirt, mold and encrusted age-old grease along with roaches, rats and even bird droppings.

This is historically the first federal felony conviction of a corporate food executive in the United States. Food safety lawyers and advocates couldn’t be more happy with the jury’s decision.

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