Dole under criminal investigation for deadly listeria outbreak

Dole Food Company is facing a criminal investigation into a deadly listeria outbreak involving its packaged salad.

According to a report from the Food and Drug Administration, Dole knew of the problem at an Ohio salad plant more than a year before shutting down the operation on Jan. 22. The company tested surfaces at the plant, and the samples came back positive for listeria on nine separate occasions in 2014 and 2015.

DOLE WITHDRAWS SALAD AFTER LISTERIA KILLS 1, SICKENS 12

The outbreak sickened 33 people in the United States and Canada. All were treated at the hospital and four died. Dole said the problems at the plant are fixed and reopened the facilities on April 21.

The world’s largest fruit and vegetable producer released a statement on Friday, saying it would cooperate with the U.S. Department of Justice and address any concerns.