Federal prosecutors have this to say about placing profits over food safety: It carries a jail sentence. They emphasize that the convictions of Bedford, GA-based Peanut Corp. of America (PCA) executives Stewart Parnell and his brother, Michael, represent an important warning to others who may be tempted to forego food-safety practices.
The Parnells were convicted of conspiracy, obstruction of justice, wire fraud and other charges, at the expense of more than 700 people in 43 states who were sickened by salmonella-tainted peanut butter. The outbreak in 2008 and 2009 was linked to nine deaths.