Dive Brief:
- It appears that ConAgra will face criminal charges for its role in a salmonella outbreak that sickened 425 people as it swept across the country in 2006-2007.
- The Department of Justice has begun sending letters to people who were sickened during the outbreak, saying that they may have been "victims" of a crime -- the first proof that the government is considering criminal charges.
- ConAgra, which manufacturers the Peter Pan and Great Value brands at the center of the outbreak, warned investors in an SEC filing that is "likely" that federal misdemeanor charges will be filed against the company.
Dive Insight:
Back when federal inspectors traced the 2006-2007 outbreak to a ConAgra peanut-butter plant in Georgia, they found a facility that was, to use the non-scientific term, gross. The place had a leaky roof, traces of mold, cockroaches, and more.
But it's not clear when being gross and dirty goes from being disgusting to being criminal. Either way, it's worth noting that no one at ConAgra is at risk of being imprisoned over the 2006-2007 case. At most, the company will face a fine. That's quite different from the ongoing case involving the now defunct Peanut Corporation of America.