Plant in E.coli cases nixed inspections

DANVILLE, Va., June 26 (UPI) -- A Nestle plant in Danville, Va., tabbed as the source of contaminated cookie dough products previously rejected federal inspection requests, reports say.

Released Food and Drug Administration inspection reports said officials at the Nestle USA plant would not provide FDA inspectors with information ranging from the site's pest-control efforts to environmental-testing programs, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday.

FDA and industry officials did clarify the plant was not required to provide such documents to FDA inspectors.

Nestle USA has already recalled 300,000 cases of cookie dough products since the edible items were blamed for an outbreak of E. coli.

The Danville plant halted production of cookie dough products June 18, but pasta and sauce products are still being made at the site, Nestle USA spokeswoman Edie Burge said.

The Journal said FDA officials could get access to plant records if they invoke a bioterrorism law and have proof items manufactured at the site pose a serious health risk.