Friday, May 6, 2016

Consultant faked meat bacteria tests


 
Consultant Jim Johnson, 68, will be on probation and home detention because he faked bacteria test results on beef from Huntington Meat Packing Co. of Montebello, California.

The government later found the beef was contaminated with E. coli and ordered 5.7 million pounds recalled.

The company is now out of business.

Johnson’s lawyer said he didn’t think it was any big deal because consumers would cook the meat and that would destroy harmful bacteria.

Johnson was also ordered to pay $307,000 in restitution.

“I am truly sorry for what I have done,” Johnson told the court. “I never meant to hurt anyone.”