Dole Says DOJ Investigating Listeria Outbreak

Dole Food Co. said last week that the Justice Department recently contacted the company as part of a probe into a listeria outbreak tied to packaged salads.

Dole said in a statement that it would cooperate "to answer questions and address any concerns" raised by DOJ investigators.

The company closed its Springfield, Ohio, plant in January after state agriculture officials identified listeria in a Dole salad bought at a retail location. The strain closely resembled the listeria that resulted in 33 hospitalizations and 4 deaths in the U.S. and Canada between May 2015 and February 2016.

Recent reports also indicated that Dole found evidence of listeria at the Springfield plant months before it was closed amid the outbreak.

Dole's statement disclosing the DOJ investigation was part of a release pointing out that the latter issues, which were identified in Food and Drug Administration documents, were already corrected.

"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," the company said.