Cantaloupe farmers tied to Listeria outbreak to plead guilty

Brothers Eric and Ryan Jensen, owners of the cantaloupe farm responsible for a 2011 Listeria outbreak that killed 33, plan to plead guilty to charges of introducing adulterated food into interstate commerce. They filed documents on Tuesday notifying the court of their intention, in hopes of reducing possible penalties of up to six years in prison and $1.5 million in fines. Criminal charges stemming from foodborne illnesses are extremely rare.

FDA says unsanitary conditions at the Jensen Farms packhouse were the cause of the deadly outbreak.