Food & Beverage Litigation & Regulatory Update

Tag: salmonella

  • Guilty Pleas Expected in Tainted Egg Outbreak

    Federal prosecutors have reportedly filed criminal charges against Iowa-based Quality Egg LLC and two former company executives—Austin “Jack” DeCoster and his son Peter—over a 2010 Salmonella outbreak that sickened thousands across the country and resulted in the recall of some 550 million eggs. United States v. Quality Egg, LLC, No. 14-cr-3024 (N.D. Iowa, filed May 21,…

  • Antimicrobial Edible Films Inhibit Pathogens in Meat

    Researchers at Penn State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences have purportedly found that edible films made from pullulan—a transparent polymer produced by the fungus Aureobasidium pulluns, silver nanoparticles, zinc oxide, and oregano and rosemary essential oils—can inhibit foodborne pathogens on meat products. Mohamed K. Morsy, et al., “Incorporation of Essential Oils and Nanoparticles in Pullulan…

  • Former Peanut Corp. Manager Pleads Guilty

    Samuel Lightsey, who formerly managed the Peanut Corp. of America, which was implicated in a 2008-2009 nationwide Salmonella outbreak, has entered a guilty plea to six of 76 criminal charges, including conspiracy, mail and wire fraud, obstruction of justice, and other counts related to the distribution of adulterated or misbranded food. U.S. v. Lightsey, No.…

  • Court Denies Motion to Sever Charges Against Stewart Parnell

    A federal court in Georgia has denied a motion to sever the criminal charges filed against the former owner of the Peanut Corp. of America, linked to a 2009 nationwide Salmonella outbreak, from charges filed against other company employees. United States v. Parnell, No. 13-cr-12 (M.D. Ga., order entered April 24, 2014). Information about a…

  • Court Conducts Daubert Hearing in Criminal Case Against Peanut Co. Owner

    A federal court in Georgia presiding over a criminal action against the owner and employees of the now-defunct Peanut Corp. of America, purportedly involved in a 2009 nationwide Salmonella outbreak, conducted a hearing on March 13, 2014, to determine whether the expert testimony proffered as to owner Stewart Parnell’s ability to form the intent to…

  • Pet Food Plaintiff Seeks Class Settlement Approval

    An unopposed motion for preliminary approval of a class-action settlement has been filed in a federal court in New York to resolve the claims of those who allegedly purchased Salmonella-contaminated pet food that was subject to a nationwide recall and purportedly linked to infections in people and animals. Marciano v. Schell & Kampeter, Inc., No.…

  • FSIS Issues New Compliance Guidelines for Hog Facilities

    The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is requesting comments on its draft guidance for controlling Salmonella in hog slaughter facilities. Intended to “provide information on best practices to prevent, eliminate or reduce levels of Salmonella on hogs at all stages of slaughter and dressing,” FSIS issued the guidance in response to recent Salmonella outbreaks…

  • Court Agrees to Postpone Criminal Trial Against Peanut Co. Owner/Employees

    A federal court in Georgia has called for the prosecutors and defendants in a criminal action arising from the 2009 nationwide Salmonella outbreak linked to the peanut products made by the Blakely, Georgia, Peanut Corp. of America to propose a scheduling order and trial dates between July 7, 2014, and August 2014. United States v. Parnell,…