FDA still searching for E. coli source

DANVILLE, Va., July 9 (UPI) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration cannot find the source of E. coli found in Nestle's cookie dough, FDA officials confirmed Thursday.

A 30-state outbreak of E. coli sickened about 84 people. FDA inspectors found E. coli in an unopened package of cookie dough at Nestle's Danville, Va., plant but the genetic fingerprint was different from the one that cause the illnesses. A third kind of E. coli was found in dough recovered from a victim's home.

Nestle spokeswoman Laurie McDonald told ABC News the company dismantled the entire production facility in Danville and is slowly returning it to operation. She said the firm discarded all stored ingredients and will resume operations with new eggs, margarine, flour and other items.

The company will extensively test all ingredients before using them, she said.

The FDA is still searching for which ingredient contained the E. coli. Assistant Commissioner for Food Safety Dr. David Acheson said the investigation should soon be complete.