Peanut Exec Faces 'Absurd' Sentence Over Salmonella

Prosecutors want him locked up for life
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Jul 23, 2015 5:27 PM CDT
Peanut Exec Faces 'Absurd' Sentence Over Salmonella
A 2009 photo of former Peanut Corporation of America President Stewart Parnell.   (AP Photo/Don Petersen, File)

Federal court officers are recommending a life sentence for a peanut executive convicted in a salmonella-poisoning case. Former Peanut Corporation of American owner Stewart Parnell was convicted last fall of selling truckloads of peanut butter from his southwest Georgia plant to food processors even after they tested positive for salmonella. Food containing the tainted peanuts was blamed for killing nine people and sickening more than 700.

A lawyer for victims sickened by peanut butter from Parnell's plant called the recommended sentence "unprecedented." Parnell attorney Ken Hodges went further, calling it "truly absurd." The US Probation Office prepared the recommendation for Parnell's upcoming sentencing, and it was revealed in a court filing by prosecutors today. The judge in the case will announce his decision in September, notes FoodSafetyNews. (More salmonella stories.)

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