Dive Brief:
- Prosecutors said Austin "Jack" DeCosters and his son Peter, former executives at Quality Egg, knew their Iowa egg facilities were at risk for contamination.
- Both were sentenced to three months in jail for their roles in a 2010 salmonella outbreak that sickened thousands.
- The Quality Egg company will pay a $6.8 million fine as part of a plea agreement, and the DeCosters will pay $100,000 each. The company has a history of legal issues regarding previous salmonella cases, immigration, labor and environmental violations.
Dive Insight:
The DeCosters wanted to avoid jail time, but because federal health officials linked 1,939 illnesses to the outbreak but estimate between 56,000 and 62,000 people may have been sickened, prosecutors asked for strict punishment. Sending CEOs to jail sends a loud and clear message.
Recently, a listeria outbreak plagued a Blue Bell plant, after which Blue Bell suspended operations there, and Sabra recalled hummus for potential listeria contamination.
