These cases are on the public record. They're here to show what's at stake and which controls would matter, not to judge the people involved. Each one is limited to what courts, regulators or an official inquiry stated, or what was widely reported.
Peanut Corporation of America, 2008 to 2009
A outbreak linked to peanut products. Nine people died and hundreds fell ill.
Its president was sentenced to 28 years in prison in 2015, reported as the largest sentence in a food safety case. Others also received prison terms. The company no longer operates.
Known failures can become personal criminal liability for those in charge.
Chipotle, 2015 to 2018
A run of outbreaks, including and , with more than 1,100 people ill across the period.
Same-store sales fell 14.6% in the last quarter of 2015, then about 36% in January 2016, and reports said more than a quarter came off the share price. In 2020 it agreed to a record 25 million US dollar fine, under a deferred prosecution agreement.
Sick-worker policy and consistent execution across sites can decide a brand's future. Share prices have many causes, so treat that figure with care.
Maple Leaf Foods, 2008
A outbreak linked to a meat plant in Canada. Sources give 22 or 23 deaths.
The company publicly took responsibility and settled a class action for about 27 million Canadian dollars. An independent inquiry found a lack of attention to food safety by senior management in both the public and private sectors.
Boards own this risk. How a company responds shapes what follows, and control depends on the environment.