September 21, 2015
Posted January 25, 2016
Stewart Parnell, former owner and president of Peanut Corporation of America, was sentenced to 28 years in prison for his role in shipping salmonella-positive peanut products before the results of microbiological testing were received and falsifying microbiological test results. It is the largest criminal sentence ever in a food safety case. Also sentenced to 20 years and 5 years respectively for their role in the misconduct was Mr. Parnell’s brother Michael, who worked on behalf of PCA as a food broker, and Mary Wilkerson, who held various PCA positions including receptionist, office manager and quality assurance manager. Whistleblower Insider