Sale Of 'Bad' Apple Cider Will Put Man In Prison For Years

ELLSWORTH, Mich. (AP) - A northern Michigan man has been sentenced to up to four years in prison after "bad" apple cider led to an E. coli outbreak and hospital stays for two adults and two children.

James Ruster is the first person convicted of a felony under Michigan's Food Law. Ruster owns Mitchell Hill Farm in Ellsworth -- which is about 30 miles outside of Traverse City.

He pleaded guilty to willful misbranding and adulteration of food products and was sentenced this week.

Ruster was warned that safe production standards were not being met, but the state says he continued to make and sell the cider.

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