Guilty verdict in Georgia peanut trial should send warning-great news

[malaise]

http://onlineathens.com/breaking-news/2014-09-20/guilty-verdict-georgia-peanut-trial-should-send-warning
<snip>
Food safety advocates say a guilty verdict in a rare federal food-poisoning trial should send a stern warning to anyone who may be tempted to place profits over people's welfare.

More than five years after hundreds of Americans got sick from eating salmonella-tainted peanut butter, the top executive in the company that owned the Georgia plant where it was made was convicted Friday of conspiracy, obstruction of justice, wire fraud and other crimes related the nationwide outbreak in 2008 and 2009.

Former Peanut Corporation of America owner Stewart Parnell, 60, could face more than three decades in prison for the outbreak that was linked to nine deaths and prompted one of the largest food recalls in U.S. history. His brother, Michael Parnell, and another co-defendant could face 20 years in prison or more.

Experts said it was the first time American food processors have gone to trial on federal charges in a food-poisoning case. Food safety advocates applauded the jury verdict reached after a seven-week trial, though they also noted the case was unusually egregious.

[aikoaiko]

1. This is great news and peanut farmers in GA are thrilled.

[surrealAmerican]

2. Hopefully, this leads to actual decades of prison time.

A fine, no matter how substantial, is not enough.

[malaise]

3. I think they're going to prison

for this one - and for a long time

[matt819]

4. I'd like to call this a beginning

And I really hope it is. But I'm not holding my breath. Whether it's tainted peanut butter or wage theft or too big to fail banks, it's highly unlikely that we're going to see a parade of white collar criminals on their way to jail or subject to real financial penalties.

[BrotherIvan]

7. Or oil companies, or chemical companies, or mining companies, or construction companies

If we jailed executives for knowingly harming the public, then the argument about their rights would hold water. But since they can get away with anything in the name of profit, go bankrupt and just start another Freedom Industries, the whole argument is a sham.

[safeinOhio]

5. Hope it's not overturned by SC on religious grounds.

After all they worship money.

[malaise]

15. DUzy

Good one

[cstanleytech]

6. Now if only the government would go after bankers

when they commit crimes and cover them up.

[Stuart G]

8. This is important news in my opinion..

Some rich men who owned a food company that poisoned hundreds of people, are guilty on almost 100 counts. could get life in prison...

here is a link to Web MD from 2009

http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/food-poisoning/news/20090121/peanut-butter-salmonella-outbreak-rages-on

Over 400 people were sickened, and that included 6 deaths..read that link..

[malaise]

10. It is huge

because the scumbags also did serious damage to Georgia's peanut farmers.


Men and women will have to learn that you cannot sell shit for profit. They are criminals.

[suffragette]

9. I hope they go jail for a long, long time

[Stuart G]

11. Another link on this company..Peanut Corporation of America..some of this is hard to believe

These owners had an unbelievable history..it is a long read, but it speaks for itself.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peanut_Corporation_of_America#Owner

[malaise]

12. Thanks Stuart G

[Stuart G]

13. Your welcome..Stewart Parnell, was on a government board to set standards for peanuts,Bush appointee

Peanut Corporation of America was owned by Stewart Parnell, 54,[3] who was also president and CEO of the company.[52][79][80] Parnell served on the US Department of Agriculture's Peanut Standards Board, which sets quality and handling standards for peanuts.[79] He was first appointed by Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns to the position in 2005,[81] and was reappointed for another term that would have expired in 2011,[79] however, on February 5, 2009 the USDA announced that the new Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack had removed Parnell from the board.[17][78][80]

from the link on Peanut Corporation of America.........Wikipedia link above.

[malaise]

14. THey should also arrest the politicians who facilitate

unregulated food entering the found chain. For profit capitalism means the capitalists cannot regulate themselves. This is a great verdict.

[malaise]

16. Everyone should read that Wikipedia link

Total and complete scumbags - all Bushies!!
Remarks by public officials


"This company had no conscience in its production practices, sales and distribution. That they would knowingly ship products tainted with salmonella to our nation's children almost defies belief."—US Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-Iowa)[18]

"I'd like to see some people go to jail. This was a company that should have shut things down immediately."—Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.)[92][93]

"The actions by the Peanut Corporation of America can only be described as reprehensible and criminal."—Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.)[94][95]

"They tried to hide it so they could sell it. Now they’ve caused a mammoth problem that could destroy their company – and it could destroy the peanut industry."—Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin[95]

"We’re going to be doing a complete review of FDA operations. At a bare minimum, we should be able to count on our government keeping our kids safe when they eat peanut butter. That’s what Sasha eats for lunch. Probably three times a week. I don't want to worry about whether she's going to get sick as a consequence of eating her lunch."—President Barack Obama[40][96]

"This is a clear and unconscionable act by one manufacturer."—American Peanut Council statement[44]

"It is unacceptable for corporations to put consumers' health at risk and then simply declare bankruptcy and go out of business when they get caught. PCA's declaration of bankruptcy will, among other things, shield it from liability suits filed by consumers who became sick or whose loved ones died as a result of eating PCA's peanut products."—Jean Halloran, director, Consumers Union[97]