Austin DeCoster, Distributing Adulterated Eggs, Iowa 2014

Prosecutors have delivered a severe blow to the DeCoster family, owners of Quality Egg, in connection with a nationwide outbreak of salmonellosis that led to millions of egg recall in 2010. Austin "Jack" DeCoster, 81, of Turner, Maine, received a three-month prison sentence, followed by one year of supervised release, and a $100,000 fine. His son, Peter DeCoster, 51, of Clarion, Iowa, also received a three-month prison sentence, followed by one year of supervised release, and a $100,000 fine.

Quality Egg was slammed with a $6.79 million fine, placed on probation for three years, and ordered to pay restitution totaling $83,008.19. The company also agreed to forfeit $10,000 as part of its plea agreement with the government. The defendants were sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark W. Bennett in the Northern District of Iowa.

The crime dates back to June 2010, when Quality Egg, an egg production company with operations in Wright County, Iowa, pleaded guilty to one count of bribery of a public official, one count of introducing a misbranded food into interstate commerce with intent to defraud and one count of introducing adulterated food into interstate commerce.

Austin and Peter DeCoster each pleaded guilty to one count of introducing adulterated food into interstate commerce. In their plea agreements, they admitted that the company’s shell eggs were adulterated in that they contained a poisonous and deleterious substance, Salmonella Enteriditis, which may have rendered the eggs injurious to health.

Approximately 1,939 reported consumer illnesses in multiple states were linked to adulterated eggs produced and distributed by Quality Egg. A nationwide outbreak of salmonellosis that led to the August 2010 recall of millions of eggs produced by the defendants.

U.S. Attorney Kevin W. Techau said, "The message this prosecution and sentence sends is a stern one to anyone tempted to place profits over people’s welfare. Corporate officials are on notice. If you sell contaminated food you will be held responsible for your conduct. Claims of ignorance or 'I delegated the responsibility to someone else’ will not shield them from criminal responsibility."

The case serves as a stark reminder that food manufacturers have a responsibility to produce and sell food that is safe for consumers to eat. The FDA will take action to protect public health, said Dr. Stephen Ostroff, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Acting Commissioner.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/quality-egg-company-owner-and-top-executive-sentenced-connection-distribution-adulterated