Tainted Salmonella Eggs Factory Tycoon pleads the 5th

[Ichingcarpenter]

WASHINGTON (AP) - The owner of one of two Iowa egg farms linked to as many as 1,600 salmonella illnesses declined to testify at a congressional hearing Wednesday, citing his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.

The CEO of Hillandale Farms, Orland Bethel, wouldn't answer questions before the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on investigations. The owner of Wright County Egg, Austin "Jack" DeCoster, testified that he was "horrified" to learn than his products might have been the cause of the illnesses.

Hillandale Farms and Wright County Egg recalled a half-billion eggs in August



The chairman of the subcommittee, Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., said the outbreak paints "a very disturbing picture of egg production in America." Members the subcommittee showed photos of dead chickens, bugs and piles of manure in hen houses.

An investigation by the House subcommittee found that Wright County Egg had received hundreds of positive results for salmonella in the last two years, including 73 samples that were potentially positive for Salmonella Enteritidis.



http://www.katu.com/news/national/103555559.html

[hobbit709]

1. He's worried about all the civil cases coming.

[Ichingcarpenter]

2. He was on a 5 year probation until 2008

DeCoster agreed in 2002 to pay $1.5 million to settle a lawsuit filed by female employees who claimed sexual harassment and assault at an Iowa farm DeCoster owned. The company implemented anti-harassment and anti-retaliation policies at its operations and agreed to hold training programs about workplace issues.

In 2003, DeCoster pleaded guilty in federal court in Iowa to knowingly hiring illegal immigrants and was sentenced to five years probation.

In 2007, 51 illegal workers at six DeCoster farms in Iowa were arrested but no further action was taken against DeCoster.

Earlier this year, Maine Contract Farming, the successor company to DeCoster Egg Farms, paid $125,000 to settle an animal cruelty case.



Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2010/09/20/2237506_iowa-egg-producer-separates-business.html#ixzz10MAYVppU

[Bonhomme Richard]

3. Yeah, and the other horses ass says that he is praying for the ......

health of those sickened. What crap. There has to be a special place in hell for these christians.

[Scuba]

4. But we don't need no stinking regulations.