Hey Jessica, I pm'ed you this question but wanted to post it on your article as well in case anyone else had an opinion on the matter.

What, in your opinion, were the major factors in the decision to make this a criminal case?

What laws did PCA actually break and what proof would be needed to convict?

Sure, they might of had tests that came back positive but secondary tests came back negative. What is the law there?

I have read comments from lab officials saying that once a test comes back positive, good business practices suggests throwing the entire lot out but I haven't read anywhere that this is an actual law.

I have heard allegations that the PCA was lab shopping but I haven't read that this is actually illegal and even if it were or is, I would imagine it would be extremely difficult to prove seeing as secondary tests seem to be legal.

What is PCA's crime? If it is only that they knowingly shipped out tainted product, how can this be proved seeing as all 12 shipments had at least one clean bill of health from a lab?

The peanut Co. claiming that they didn't know the products were contaminated amounts to nothing but a bold faced lie. Of course, you can ALWAYS find someone who will support your position, even it that position is that the earth is flat, or that your peanuts which are contaminated are not. Given that fact, the company that is responsible for distributing these peanuts after they were notified of the contamination should be criminally prosecuted for the deaths and illnesses resulting from their willful disregard for human life in favor of greed. I would think this should fall under murder or at least manslaughter.