Former owner of Peanut Corp. of America, Stewart Parnell, has reportedly been convicted in relation to the salmonella outbreak in 2008-9 which saw nine people die and 700 others sickened.

One of the US’ first felony convictions of a corporate executive in a US food-safety case, he was found guilty on charges including wire fraud and obstruction of justice following a seven-week trial in Albany according to the Wall Street Journal.

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Other former employees were indicted last year for obstruction of justice and a conspiracy to cover up the salmonella contamination.

Parnell’s brother Michael Parnell, a food broker working on Peanut Corp.’s behalf, and Mary Wilkerson, quality assurance manager, were also reportedly convicted. 

The outbreak led to the recall of over 2000 food products. Peanut Corp filed for bankruptcy protection weeks after the outbreak began.

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