Workers at the Blakely, Ga., plant owned by Peanut Corp. of America continued shipping peanut products even after they were found to contain salmonella.
Peanut Corp. expanded its recall to all the peanut products produced at the plant since Jan. 1, 2007. The company is relatively small, but its peanut paste is an ingredient in hundreds of other food products, from ice cream, to Asian-style sauces, to dog biscuits.
A senior lawmaker in Congress and Georgia's agriculture commissioner called for a criminal investigation of the company, but the Food and Drug Administration said such a step is premature while its own food safety investigation continues.
More than 500 people have gotten sick in the outbreak and at least eight may have died as a result. More than 400 products have already been recalled.
Federal food safety officials say it's too early to say what action will be taken against the Georgia peanut company at the heart of the current salmonella outbreak.
The Food and Drug Administration says it is preparing a report of findings on the Blakely, Ga., plant owned by Peanut Corp. of America, and the company will be allowed to respond.
The FDA's Michael Rogers told reporters on Wednesday that the agency has a number of regulatory options available. He declined to elaborate.