Man Gets Jail Time for Peeing on Line at Kellogg’s Plant

A man who was formerly employed at Kellogg Company’s cereal plant in Memphis, TN was sentenced to 10 months in federal prison on May 24 by U.S. District Court Judge Jon P. McCalla for tampering with consumer products, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Tennessee announced this week

In 2016, a video surfaced on the internet showing Gregory Stanton urinating on an assembly line conveyor belt at Kellogg’s plant in Memphis, TN. Stanton worked for Kellogg’s in Memphis in 2014 and later posted the video, which promoted an investigation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Powder & Bulk Solids reported. A copy of the video can be seen here via NBC News affiliate WMC. 

“American citizens and consumers rely on food manufacturers engaged in interstate commerce to provide them with safe and consistent products,” U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said in a press release. “Unfortunately, this defendant betrayed the trust by tampering and tainting food products. We commend the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for investigating this matter.”

A federal grand jury indicted Staunton in September 2018 for tainting consumer products with the intent to cause serious injury to the business of any person, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Staunton entered a plea of guilty on Nov. 30, 2018. 

Stanton initially faced up to three years in prison, three years supervised release, and a total potential fine of $250,000. During his sentencing on May 24, he was also ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution. 

“Americans expect and deserve the highest standards of food safety and wholesomeness, and the integrity of the U.S. food supply is too important to be thwarted by the illegal acts of any individual,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge H. Peter Kuehl, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, Miami Field Office, in a statement. “FDA remains fully committed to the vigorous prosecution of criminals who tamper with or taint the U.S. food supply in any manner.”

Get information or register for Powder Show Toronto, June 4-6, 2019

For more news headlines, articles, and equipment reviews, visit our Equipment Zones