Odwalla Will Pay $1.5 Million Fine

Odwalla Inc. will pay a $1.5 million fine in connection with a deadly outbreak of E.coli that was linked to unpasteurized apple juice manufactured by the company's plant in Central California nearly two years ago.

The juice producer has reached an agreement with the U.S. Attorney's Office to plead guilty to 16 counts of delivery of adulterated food products for introduction into interstate commerce.

The $1.5 million fine includes $250,000 for research and expanded consumer awareness of foodborne illnesses. It is the largest criminal fine for a food injury case in the FDA's history, and the first such criminal conviction to be obtained in a large-scale pathogenic outbreak.

A sixteen-month-old Denver girl died and at least 66 other people got sick in the West after drinking the juice in October 1996.

Odwalla voluntarily recalled all apple juice-based products and revised its manufacturing process to pasteurize all apple juice shortly after the outbreak. (See Food Online Feature Article: Flash Pasteurization and Revised HACCP Plans Turn Things Around For Odwalla)

The company is also required to comply with manufacturing guidelines that are being developed to mandate fresh juice manufacturers to use improved production methods to prevent and eliminate contaminated food from the marketplace.

In response to the decision, Odwalla issued a statement saying, "This agreement marks the end to the U.S. Attorney's investigation. While it closes a very painful chapter for our customers and our company, we will never forget the lessons we have learned. Our sympathies remain forever extended to the individuals and families who were affected by this incident."