US FDA joins criminal investigation on salmonella

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is joining with the Justice Department in a criminal investigation of Peanut Corp of America, whose plant caused an outbreak of salmonella that has sickened more than 500 people and may have killed eight.

The FDA’s Dr. Stephen Sundlof said the agency would help investigate criminal allegations in the outbreak, traced to a single Blakely, Georgia, peanut plant that has been closed.

Checks by state and federal health officials have found widespread contamination at the plant and evidence that plant management knowingly shipped salmonella-tainted products.

CHICAGO (Reuters)