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Late Breaking News |
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| Date: July 23, 1998 10:00 am Contact: S.T.O.P. -- Safe Tables Our Priority Elaine Dodge, Executive Director (650) 493-4395 |
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Latest News Releases
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S.T.O.P. To Receive $125,000 From Odwalla Plea; Agreement Commends Pursuit Of Companies That Ship Contaminated Food | ||
| NEW YORK - July 23 - S.T.O.P. -- Safe Tables Our Priority today
announced that as part of the plea agreement between Odwalla Inc. and the U.S. Attorney's
Office, S.T.O.P. will receive $125,000 over 5 years. In the agreement, Odwalla pled guilty
to "16 counts of criminal misdemeanor for unknowingly shipping adulterated
juice." In the fall of 1996, Odwalla brand unpasteurized apple juice products
contaminated by the deadly bacteria E.coli O157:H7 sickened at least 70 people. Victims
were identified in California, Washington, Colorado, and British Columbia. Fourteen
children developed the life-threatening condition Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), which
is the leading cause of kidney failure in children. One of them, sixteen-month-old Anna
Gimmestad of Colorado, died from HUS related multiple organ failure. E. coli O157:H7
survivors face a lifetime of medical uncertainty, and may battle significant health
complications for years following the initial illness. "We strongly support the government's pursuit of companies that ship contaminated foods that cause life threatening illness," said Nancy Donley, President of S.T.O.P. "Such companies should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." S.T.O.P. has supported the imposition of criminal and civil penalties for offenders. "This should place industry on notice that hazardous and illegal activities will be prosecuted." In resolving this case, the federal government has set two significant examples. First, the government quickly pursued a company suspected of violating food safety standards. Second, a portion of the settlement will be distributed to a victim's organization, whereas typically all the monetary penalties are paid exclusively to the government. Pursuant to negotiations, Odwalla Inc. and the U.S. Attorney's Office agreed to direct a portion of the fines imposed on Odwalla to S.T.O.P. "We applaud the creative decision to allocate money to S.T.O.P. as part of the resolution of the legal action," said S.T.O.P.'s Executive Director Elaine Dodge. "The contribution to S.T.O.P. will ensure that money will be used directly to benefit victims and educate consumers." S.T.O.P. members affected by contaminated juice are developing consumer education and victim's assistance programs that would be funded by thesettlement. Under consideration are: Expansion of the foodborne illness victim's section of the S.T.O.P. website (www.stop-usa.org/victims.html); Establishment of a Foodborne Illness Outbreak Report for all 50 states; and, Sponsorship of a Foodborne Illness Victims Conference addressing medical issues. S.T.O.P. -- Safe Tables Our Priority is an independent, national, non-profit, grassroots organization devoted to victim assistance, public education, and policy advocacy for safe food and public health. The organization was founded in 1993 by families and friends of people who became ill or died from exposure to E. coli O157:H7 in meat. Our membership has grown to include victims of pathogenic bacteria from a variety of foods, and their family members, consumers, and concerned members of the public health and public interest communities. ### |
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