Salmonella Peanut Butter Plant Owner Living Incarnation Of Evil Cartoon Character
Congressional testimony reveals that Stewart Parnell, owner of the Peanut Corp. of America which lies at the center of the investigation over salmonella-tainted peanut-butter that's killed nine people, is like a living cartoon.
Prodding workers to ship knowingly salmonella-tainted products, Stewart Parnell, Peanut Corp. of America owner, said they should be able to "turn the raw peanuts on the floor into money." When he shipped products off to customers before getting test results, and then the test results indicated contamination, his response was, "Uh Oh." And as we already know, when lab results started reporting contamination, his response was to find a different lab that wouldn't.
Just give him a wax mustache and a train track and he's set to go!
Ninth death associated with nationwide salmonella outbreak [Consumer Reports Safety Blog] (Photo: portorikan)
Post a comment
Comments:
I don't think "Total Jerkface" is quite the term I would use for someone who killed 9 people in the name of greed...
What are we, China? Throw this guy into jail, seize all the assets, and make an example of him.
He should be charged with criminally negligent homicide. If they can prove these actions in court, let him hang.
@Jenkinsbball: What are you, nuts? This will blow over and he'll become CEO of like, ConAgra or something.
"The board is greatly looking forward to the tenure of a CEO with a profit-driven record like Mr. Parnell's."
@CyrusOpeth: I can't believe I'm saying this, but right now I wish we were China. They killed the guy behind the tainted melamine thing, didn't they?
@shoelace414: Between PCA's glacial response to the problem and his email tracks, the guy's pretty much wrapped it up for himself. His only out will be big misconduct on the part of investigators, or maybe a jury stuffed with Wall Street CEOs.
I just love how he sat there pleading the 5th after they'd heard testimony from a guy whose mother had survived cancer and a brain tumor only to fall to salmonella.
In earlier, more simple times the dude would have gotten a square punch in the jaw for douchebaggery of that magnitude and no one would have seen nothin'.
@t-r0y: That's probably the appropriate charge, or rather the federal equivalent will be. Given the email trail this case should be easy to prove by a halfway competent federal prosecutor.
Where's Jack McCoy with depraved indifference?
Guys, this is America. He'll get off with a slap on the wrist, some silly-huge severance package, and can live happily ever after.
Rich people do not go to jail.
Can we get one of those Chinese death vans for these guys? Seriously. They have NO reason to live.
@projoe1979: Killed more then one IIRC.
I don't think a county with "death buses" is one that we should be emulating.
@Daniel Parmelee: I dunno about the severance package. This company really isn't that massive and the civil suits will wipe him completely out if he doesn't end up in jail for criminal charges (which I surely hope he does).
Nine cases of negligent homicide that can not be served at the same time on top of whatever criminal and civil charges the fed and victims are going to go after him for.
I think that, while he is in jail, they should serve him only peanut butter from the batches that were recalled. If it's good enough for us to eat, it's good enough for him!
Pump out those Spacely Space Sprockets at any cost.
@howie_in_az: "I SEE WHAT YOU DID THERE and snickered to myself."
I see what YOU did THERE, but I don't have another pun.
@concordia: In even *earlier* times, he would be hanging from a tree with a mob around him with pitchforks.
@Ninjastorm66: "Total Jerkface" is exactly the word I would use for someone who killed 9 people. But that's just me.
"SIR! SIR!!!"
"What is it Thompson?"
"Johanssen just fell into the mixer and was pulverized with Batch # 24380!"
"My word! This requires immediate action! Get marketing on the line, we need a flashy graphic that says 'Now with more protein!"
What disgusting is he probably won't even be up for the death penalty despite killing 9 people and sickening hundreds more on purpose. Probably won't even get life. Rich people have it made.
please this will blow over then in another year. Then some other product will get recalled people will complain about whatever government organization failed the politicians will make a big show for reelection and the cycle will continue.
What's a "Plantowner"?
@Daniel Parmelee: Tell that to Martha Stewart. She's a billionaire and went to jail for a few thousand dollars worth of insider trading.
@Daniel Parmelee: Sadly this is probably the truth.
"No one is above the law" ... well in America plenty of people are! Anyone in power, and anyone with money.
@t-r0y:
The problem is, he wasn't negligent. He knew that tainted product was shipping. He *ensured* it. So he wasn't negligent.
This guy should be jailed while awaiting whatever further court proceedings are in store for him. If they do lock him up though, I'm sure he'll be out on bail in a Jiffy, and if that happens, I bet he Skippy's bail and ends up in a country with no Extra-Chunky treaty. That guy is Smooth.
@liquidnumb: No, Total Jerkface is something I'd use if he was shipping out rancid peanut butter that was just gross. Killing people calls for Ultimate Jerkface or something like that.
@concordia: I'm surprised he doesn't have federal protection right now. If I was family of one of the 9, he'd be getting the Jack Ruby treatment.
I hope he, whoever else is responsible for making the decision to ship a tainted product, and whichever lab passed the tainted product, should be made to pay for:
1. Funerals and medical costs of those who died
2. Medical costs of those who received, or are receiving treatment, for salmonella
3. Cost of goods to clients for the merchandise pulled from shelves (and presumably destroyed)
I wouldn't jail them -- they'd be completely broke, suffering, and shamed to the point that they wouldn't even want to go out.
Rat bastard deserves to rot in jail. Every day he gets three peanutbutter crackers, and has to eat one before he gets anything else.
@NightSteel: I think it should be murder. He knowingly sent out a contaminated product that could kill. Furthermore he had to have known his products were going to end up in institutions where the chance of someone dying was going to be greater. I just hope he doesn't end up going to club fed. He needs to have a male rapist for a cell mate. Emphasis on MATE.
At least he'll be going to "federal pound me in the @ss prison" for a while after this.