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.”
