Peanut Corp of America Indicted in 2009 Salmonella Outbreak, Supplied 2.5 Percent of Nation's Peanut Products

Sometimes you feel like a nut. Sometimes you don't. And for former officials of Peanut Corp of America-who have been indicted in connection with a 2009 outbreak of salmonella from tainted peanut products according to the U.S. Justice Department-they're most likely not feeling all that great about the repercussions of these charges.

The charges filed in U.S. District Court in Georgia include fraud, conspiracy and the introduction of adulterated and misbranded food into interstate commerce, according to the department.

Peanut products contaminated with salmonella have been the cause of at least 600 sicknesses across the U.S. and in Canada, according to recalls from 2009.

Peanut Corp of America filed for liquidation after the outbreak and is no longer in business.

According to USA Today, when the outbreak hit, PCA supplied 2.5 percent of the nation's peanut products. This included peanut butter sold to institution and paste and meal used in foods made by hundreds of companies. These products were used to make peanut butter cookies, ice cream, candy, cakes and other items.

At the time, William Hubbard, a former FDA associate commissioner, called the outbreak "a poster child for everything that went wrong" with the USA's food-safety system. "Down the line, you can find flaws and failures," he told USA TODAY.

Owner of Peanut Corp of America, Stewart Parnell, allegedly complained about lost profits while the food posining was being investigated. However, according to Reuters, he later refused to testify after U.S. lawmakers subpoenaed him to appear at a hearing.

Parnell, 58, was among those charged, including with obstruction of justice.

The Justice Department said he and three other company officials participated in a scheme to ship salmonella-contaminated peanuts and peanut products, misleading customers.

Looks like this whole thing, for lack of a better word, just got a little nutty.