Posted on 10/04/2006 12:52:46 PM PDT by flutters
(AP) SALINAS, Calif. The FBI searched two spinach packaging companies Wednesday for evidence in the nationwide E. coli outbreak that sickened 192 people.
Agents from the FBI and the Food and Drug Administration used warrants to search the San Juan Bautista plant of Natural Selection Foods LLC and a Growers Express plant in Salinas to determine whether they followed food safety procedures.
Federal health officials said early in their investigation that deliberate contamination was not suspected.
"We are investigating allegations that certain spinach growers and distributors may not have taken all necessary or appropriate steps to ensure that their spinach was safe before they were placed into interstate commerce," U.S. Attorney Kevin Ryan said in a statement.
The searches were the first indication that authorities suspect a crime may have been committed in the outbreak that led to at least one death and caused the FDA to issue a two-week consumer warning on fresh spinach.
Natural Selection, which packages spinach sold under 34 brand names and supplies spinach to other food processors, was implicated in the E. coli outbreak after 11 bags of Dole brand baby spinach tested positive for the same bacteria strain found in people who feel ill after eating the leafy greens.
"OK Popeye, FREEZE. Put your hands up".
HMMMM? Disgruntled *immigrant* workers? Chances are, We would never hear about it.
Yeah.... one of those dark swarthy guys that looks like a "Mexican" ......doesn't need much more than a vial of concentrated e-colli spread around.
Didn't the Bahgwan's followers spread some disease in salad bars some years ago?
"hey juan , where you goin' man?"
"I'm not feelin' good, jaime. I gotta crap."
"Well, don't forget your spinach"
"Thanks man, I wouldn't want ta get no sh@t on my fingers"
So what's the straight poop on that?
'Migrant workers have always been too --- to walk to the porta pottie cans. I chopped onions in the mid-Sixties.
I'll bet you find that the culprits don't take the necessary or appropriate steps to ensure that their workers have a legal right to work in the US, either. It's the same greedy, corner-cutting, anything-for-a-buck mentality.
Actually, the FBI seems like the wrong agency to investigate food contamination, unless it was suspected to be domestic bioterrorism. I would suspect a USDA or FDA agency to be the principal investigators.
Sheesh. Should read the article. It seems that the FDA was involved. Presence of FBI is still unusual.
A successful persecution is always assured if the charge is failure to properly fill out government forms.
I need some sleep. I thought the headline said "SPANISH PACKING PLANT..."
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.