Food and Drug Administration’s Power to Prosecute

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Photo by Fotolila/MA Ford
 While reporting dozens of drug-related criminal convictions on its website, the FDA reports few food-related cases..

The following article is posted with permission from the Food Safety News.

More than a year after the deadly Listeria outbreak that stemmed from Jensen Farms’ cantaloupes was first detected, criminal charges have yet to be filed against the company, but the Food and Drug Administration’s website says its outbreak investigation is still open.

FDA’s report was last updated on January 8, 2012 with information provided by the Centers for Disease Control in its final update, which reported a total of 147 illnesses in 28 states, 33 deaths and one miscarriage linked to the outbreak.

Since FDA has yet to close the case – or notify the public of any further actions regarding the outbreak – will Jensen’s face criminal prosecution sometime in the future?

The U.S. Attorney’s office in Denver would not confirm nor deny the existence of any investigation into the Jensen Farms case when contacted by Food Safety News.

  • Published on Oct 17, 2012
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