Food Safety Record

Salmonella Typhimurium United States, Canada ยท 2008 to 2009

Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak linked to Peanut Corporation of America products, United States, 2008 to 2009

CDC reported 714 people infected with the outbreak strain in 46 states, plus one in Canada. About 24 percent of those with information were hospitalised and CDC said infection may have contributed to nine deaths. King Nut brand peanut butter produced by Peanut Corporation of America in Blakely, Georgia, and crackers made with PCA peanut paste were implicated. In 2015 a federal judge sentenced former PCA owner and president Stewart Parnell to 336 months (28 years) in prison, according to the US Department of Justice.1,2,3

714Cases
9Deaths

Counts as reported on 20 April 2009.1 Food vehicle: Peanut butter and peanut paste, including King Nut brand creamy peanut butter and products made with PCA peanut paste. Company named in official findings: Peanut Corporation of America (Blakely, Georgia).

Timeline

  1. Earliest illness onset for confirmed cases.1
  2. PulseNet noted an initial cluster of 13 isolates.1
  3. Kellogg recalled Austin and Keebler peanut butter crackers made with PCA paste.1
  4. PCA announced an expanded recall and stopped production of all peanut products.1
  5. Latest illness onset among cases with confirmed reported dates.1
  6. CDC final update.1

Regulatory and legal outcomes

  1. US District Court, Middle District of Georgia (federal jury). A federal jury convicted Stewart Parnell and Michael Parnell of multiple counts of conspiracy, mail and wire fraud and sale of misbranded food. Stewart Parnell was also convicted of introducing adulterated food into interstate commerce. Stewart Parnell and Mary Wilkerson, a former PCA employee whose roles included quality assurance manager, were convicted of obstruction of justice, according to DOJ.2
  2. US District Court, Middle District of Georgia (Senior Judge W. Louis Sands). Stewart Parnell was sentenced to 336 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Michael Parnell, a food broker and his brother, was sentenced to 240 months and three years of supervised release. Mary Wilkerson was sentenced to 60 months and two years of supervised release, according to DOJ. NPR reported the same sentences.2,3,4

Sources

  1. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium Infections Linked to Peanut Butter, 2008 to 2009 (Final Update) (11 May 2009)
  2. US Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs, Former Peanut Company President Receives Largest Criminal Sentence in Food Safety Case, Two Others Also Sentenced for Their Roles in Salmonella-Tainted Peanut Product Outbreak (21 September 2015)
  3. NPR via WFDD, Former Peanut Corp. Exec Gets 28 Years For Role In Deadly Salmonella Outbreak (21 September 2015)
  4. NPR via VPM, Former Peanut Company Executive Sentenced To 28 Years In Prison (21 September 2015)