Arrests Made in Colorado Outbreak of Listeria

Two Colorado brothers who grew listeria-contaminated cantaloupe in an outbreak that killed 33 people nationwide and sickened hundreds more were criminally charged Thursday by federal authorities, the Denver Post reports.

Eric Jensen, 37, and Ryan Jensen, 33, turned themselves in to federal marshals and pleaded not guilty to six misdemeanor counts of introducing adulterated food into the food supply. The fourth-generation family farmers from Holly, in southeastern Colorado, were shackled at the wrists during their federal court hearing.

The outbreak two years ago this month was linked to Jensen Farms after an investigation traced half-eaten cantaloupe taken from patients' refrigerators, to grocery stores and then to the farm. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officially has linked 33 deaths and a miscarriage to the outbreak, although 10 other people who had been infected with listeria bacteria after eating Jensen cantaloupe also have died.

The federal charges each carry up to one year in prison and a $250,000 fine. A trial date was set for Dec. 2.

Source: Denver Post