Salmonella victim praises charges in 2010 outbreak

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Iowa City, Iowa • A woman severely sickened after eating tainted eggs in 2010 says she welcomes criminal charges against the corporate executives blamed for a salmonella outbreak.

Sarah Lewis said Thursday that Austin "Jack" DeCoster and son Peter DeCoster should be punished for the damage they did to her and countless others.

Lewis was hospitalized three times after eating a custard tart. The 34-year-old Freedom, California, wife and mother says the illness triggered a rare autoimmune disease that she had been carrying.

Lewis met with the DeCosters in 2010 after testifying during a congressional hearing about the outbreak, which led to the recall of 550 million eggs. She says she told them, "You screwed up my life."

The DeCosters and their company were charged Wednesday with introducing adulterated food into interstate commerce.