Four people charged in connection with a 2009 salmonella outbreak that killed nine and sickened hundreds have pleaded not guilty to all charges in federal court in south Georgia.

Peanut Corporation of America owner Stewart Parnell, his food broker brother Michael Parnell, Georgia plant manager Samuel Lightsey and Georgia plant quality assurance manager Mary Wilkerson entered their pleas Thursday and were released on bond. A trial date has yet to be set.

A 76-count federal indictment charges the four defendants in a scheme to manufacture and ship salmonella-tainted peanuts.

Among the various charges are conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud and the introduction of adulterated and misbranded food into interstate commerce with the intent to defraud or mislead.

Tags: salmonella outbreak, Peanut Corporation of America, tainted peanuts