Stewart Parnell, 61, the ex-owner of the Peanut Corporation of America (PCA), was convicted in 2014 of knowingly shipping tainted products.
His brother Michael, who worked as a food broker, was given 20 years.
The outbreak made hundreds ill and prompted one of the largest food recalls in US history.
Stewart and Michael Parnell were charged after investigators traced the outbreak to the company’s plant in Blakely, Georgia in 2009.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said those who died had eaten tainted peanut butter, but could not say for certain that salmonella caused the deaths.
Inspectors found a leaky roof, cockroaches, and evidence of rats at the plant.
Prosecutors accused managers of creating fake certificates saying the food was safe when it either had not been tested or had been found to be contaminated.
“These acts were driven simply by the desire to profit,” Judge Louis Sands said.
“This is commonly and accurately referred to as greed.”
A former quality control manager at the plant, Mary Wilkerson, was also sentenced to 5 years in prison.
During the trial, Stewart Parnell apologized and asked for forgiveness, saying: “I am personally embarrassed, humiliated and morally disgraced by what happened.”
Symptoms of salmonella include diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, headaches, stomach cramps and fever, with infants and the elderly particularly at risk of developing a serious infection.
Misleading allegations, rumours and outright lies about voting and fraud are flooding online spaces in…
At least 158 people have died in Spain's worst flooding disaster in generations. On October…
Google has been fined two undecillion (a two followed by 36 zeroes) roubles by a…
Embarking on a home remodel is an exciting journey, promising enhanced comfort, increased property value,…
The US presidential candidates continued to campaign across key swing states on October 20. Footage…
Elon Musk has said he will give away $1 million a day to a registered…