Man feeds children lighter-fluid laced soup

A Georgia man has admitted forcing his young children to eat soup laced with hot peppers, lighter fluid and prescription drugs in an attempt to extort money from the Campbell Soup Company.

Authorities say William Cunningham served the poisoned soup to his three-year-old son and 18-month-old daughter. The children recovered after being hospitalized twice last year.

Under a plea deal, Cunningham faces up to five years in prison.

According to prosecutors, Cunningham called officials at Campbell Soup and threatened to sue.

Last year, a California couple received nine and 12-year prison sentences for attempting to extort fast-food chain Wendy's.

Anna Ayala and Jamie Plascencia planted a severed finger in a bowl of chili at a Wendy's restaurant in San Jose.

Forensic tests showed the finger hadn't been bitten into, the digit wasn't cooked, no Wendy's employees had a missing fingertip and no ingredient suppliers reported finger injuries.

Police discovered Plascencia had paid a co-worker $100 US for the fingertip, which the man had lost in an industrial accident.