Kenneth Kendrick couldn't believe his eyes when he first saw an email outlining a 50-page indictment handed down against the top executives from the Peanut Corporation of America.
The federal indictment was handed down Thursday, nearly four years after a deadly international salmonella outbreak was linked to the company's product.
In the indictment, federal prosecutors allege the company knowingly covered up positive test results that said some peanut products may have been contaminated with the deadly bacteria.
The indictment also accuses the company's executives of mislabeling their products and conspiring to commit mail and wire fraud.
Kendrick says he experienced firsthand some of the allegations contained in the indictment.
For instance, he and the plant manager he worked with in Plainview were instructed to transfer lab test results to PCA letterhead before sending the results to customers.
"We wondered why you would transfer a lab result to some other letterhead," Kendrick said. "Now, in hindsight, looking at the indictment and knowing they were doing that, that explains why that was company policy."
On another occasion, Kendrick said a plant manager in Georgia suggested he microwave a sponge that was supposed to be sent to a lab to be tested for salmonella. Doing so, Kendrick explained, would erase traces of the deadly bacteria.
Prosecutors allege the cover up began as far back as 2003, a time line that shocked Kendrick.
"Just the enormity of how many people may have been hurt or killed as a result and how many years this went on and how blatantly it went on to perpetuate so little profit," Kendrick said.
Company president Stewart Parnell, vice president Michael Parnell, COO Samuel Lightsey and the company's office manager, Mary Wilkerson, are all named in the indictment.
Attorneys for Stewart Parnell issued a statement defending their client Thursday. You can read a copy of that statement here.
The federal indictment was handed down Thursday, nearly four years after a deadly international salmonella outbreak was linked to the company's product.
In the indictment, federal prosecutors allege the company knowingly covered up positive test results that said some peanut products may have been contaminated with the deadly bacteria.
The indictment also accuses the company's executives of mislabeling their products and conspiring to commit mail and wire fraud.
Kendrick says he experienced firsthand some of the allegations contained in the indictment.
For instance, he and the plant manager he worked with in Plainview were instructed to transfer lab test results to PCA letterhead before sending the results to customers.
"We wondered why you would transfer a lab result to some other letterhead," Kendrick said. "Now, in hindsight, looking at the indictment and knowing they were doing that, that explains why that was company policy."
On another occasion, Kendrick said a plant manager in Georgia suggested he microwave a sponge that was supposed to be sent to a lab to be tested for salmonella. Doing so, Kendrick explained, would erase traces of the deadly bacteria.
Prosecutors allege the cover up began as far back as 2003, a time line that shocked Kendrick.
"Just the enormity of how many people may have been hurt or killed as a result and how many years this went on and how blatantly it went on to perpetuate so little profit," Kendrick said.
Company president Stewart Parnell, vice president Michael Parnell, COO Samuel Lightsey and the company's office manager, Mary Wilkerson, are all named in the indictment.
Attorneys for Stewart Parnell issued a statement defending their client Thursday. You can read a copy of that statement here.
Comments
"Although I have yet to have time to read all the details, my heart goes out to all the victims of this horrible and preventable tragedy. Nothing will ever heal the pain so many suffered, but I hope this is in some way helps their healing. As this case proceeds forward, It is my sincere hope that this will spur change in our food safety system. I believe that most food producers really do want to do the right thing, but this should send a loud and clear message that if someone puts their own greed above the safety of others, there will be consequences. I also hope that we can finally put to rest the notion that we can count on private auditors to protect the public, as PCA numerous high rankings."
Kenneth Kendrick
Kenneth K.
February 22, 2013 at 12:21 pm
"Although I have yet to have time to read all the details, my heart goes out to all the victims of this horrible and preventable tragedy. Nothing will ever heal the pain so many suffered, but I hope this is in some way helps their healing. As this case proceeds forward, It is my sincere hope that this will spur change in our food safety system. I believe that most food producers really do want to do the right thing, but this should send a loud and clear message that if someone puts their own greed above the safety of others, there will be consequences. I also hope that we can finally put to rest the notion that we can count on private auditors to protect the public, as PCA numerous high rankings."
Kenneth Kendrick
Kenneth K.
February 22, 2013 at 12:21 pm
