"Adults eating less fruit, CDC reports" by Associated Press | September 10, 2010
ATLANTA — An apple a day? Apparently not in the United States.
Most Americans still don’t eat vegetables often enough, and fruit consumption is actually dropping, according to a government report released yesterday....
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"Fallen peanut industry executive now consults; US investigation of salmonella outbreak lags" by Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press | September 10, 2010
WASHINGTON — The peanut industry executive whose filthy processing plants were blamed in a salmonella outbreak that killed nine people and sickened hundreds more two years ago is back in the business.
Looks like the peanuts are out, too.
Stewart Parnell, former president of the now-bankrupt Peanut Corp. of America, is working as a consultant to peanut companies as the federal government’s criminal investigation against him has languished for more than 18 months, the Associated Press has learned....
There is nothing illegal about Parnell’s return to the food industry since the FDA’s criminal investigation has yet to bring any charges against him or his associates. The FDA referred questions about the case to the Justice Department, which declined to comment.
The recall of Peanut Corp.’s peanut products was one of the largest in history. FDA inspectors found remarkably bad conditions inside Parnell’s processing plant in Blakely, Ga., linked to the salmonella outbreak, including mold and roaches. Even President Obama expressed concern at the height of the product recalls, noting that his daughter Sasha eats peanut butter for lunch as often as three times a week.
Like the Gulf seafood they allegedly ate?
Parnell’s lawyer, William Gust, says Parnell’s consulting began when Lynchburg, Va.-based Peanut Corp. of America sold its peanut-making equipment after filing bankruptcy. Investors who bought the equipment asked for Parnell’s advice about where to resell it, and he has advised peanut companies too, brokering equipment sales. One company he has consulted for is Citation Snack Processors in Greensboro, N.C.
Parnell said he isn’t paid for the consulting, though his lawyer said he is “trying to earn a living’’ with the work.He isn't going to do it that way.
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Sometimes the work will drive you nuts, too:
"Woman executed co-workers, police say; Feud preceded factory attack in Pa.; 2 dead" by Maryclaire Dale, Associated Press | September 11, 2010
PHILADELPHIA — A Kraft Foods plant worker who had been suspended for feuding with colleagues, then escorted from the building, returned minutes later with a .357 Magnum, found her foes in a break room, and executed two of them with a single bullet each and critically wounded a third, police said yesterday.
Yvonne Hiller, 43, had gotten into an argument Thursday evening with her co-workers at the northeast Philadelphia plant, police said. After she was disciplined, she went to her vehicle, made several phone calls, and then grabbed the gun and used it to force her way past security guards at the front gate, police said....
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