Dole Foods under criminal investigation for deadly listeria outbreak

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched a criminal investigation against Dole Foods Co. for a listeria outbreak earlier this year linked to four deaths and dozens of illnesses.

“Dole has recently been contacted by the Department of Justice in connection with its own investigation, and we will be similarly cooperating with the DOJ to answer questions and address any concerns,” the food company said in a statement Friday.

READ MORE: Dole Foods withdraws salad in Canada, U.S. in deadly listeria outbreak

A recall was issued on Jan. 22 for packaged salads produced at a Springfield, Ohio processing plant; PC Organics products were also part of that recall.

Fourteen cases of listeria in Canada — including three fatalities as a result of the illness — were linked to the outbreak, the Public Health Agency of Canada reports.

Nine people in Ontario, two in Quebec, and one in each New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador were affected. The agency does not say where the fatal illnesses occurred.

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READ MORE: 7 hospitalized in 5 provinces affected by Listeria outbreak

In the U.S., 19 people were sickened in nine states, and one person from Michigan died as a result of listeria, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

The outbreak appears to be over, the CDC states.

Dole says it has been working with authorities to correct the issues at the Ohio plant, which is now back in operation.

“We have been working in collaboration with the FDA and other authorities to implement ongoing improved testing, sanitation and procedure enhancements, which have resulted in the recent reopening of our Springfield salad plant.”

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A report from the FDA reveals the company had previous evidence of potentially dangerous bacteria at the Ohio plant as early as July 2014, and had failed to adequately test the facility for “potentially dangerous bugs”, a Wall Street Journal investigation reveals.

The FDA confirmed the authenticity of the report cited in the Journal’s investigation.