Uncovering The Truth - Some Food-Borne Illness Claims Lack All Merit
In winter of 2006, William Cunningham, in hopes of obtaining money from the Campbell Soup Company, laced his children’s soup with numerous poisons.
According to the FSIS, "Cunningham then initiated several consumer complaints to FSIS to bolster his claims that certain soup products made his children sick.” Cunningham poisoned the soup with peppers, Prozac, Amitriptyline and lighter fluid, before feeding it to his 18 month old daughter and three year old son. Both were subsequently hospitalized.
In turn, the former dump truck driver called Campbell’s and public health officials attempting to blame the illnesses on the company. After an initial inquiry into the complaints, the FSIS noticed various irregularities, and confirmed there were signs of tampering. FSIS officials then began working in cooperation with the USDA Office of Inspector General, the FDA and local police to present a case to the U.S. Department of Justice. After a thorough investigation, these agencies were able to build a thorough case against Cunningham. Following his recent jury trial and conviction, Cunningham was sentenced to more than one-hundred years in prison.
In a statement issued by the FSIS, the agency extended “its appreciation to all parties involved with the investigation that led to Cunningham's conviction.” Click on the following link to view a copy of the FSIS Statement. We are grateful for the diligent efforts of all federal, state and local agencies involved to get this one right.
We are also grateful that Campbell's was exonerated – in today’s litigious society, being innocent should count for something. The real victims of this story, however, were not so fortunate. Reports suggest that the children may be afflicted with respiratory problems for the rest of their lives.
