990375 Michigan Plant Linked to Listeria Outbreak Probed

Detroit, MI - Sara Lee Corp.'s Michigan meat processing plant connected to the deadly outbreak of listeria bacteria is under investigation by a federal grand jury, a spokeswoman for the Chicago-based consumer products giant said on Monday.

The U.S. Attorney's office in Grand Rapids, Mich., is probing Bil Mar Foods in Zeeland, Mich. Sara Lee spokeswoman Theresa Herlevsen said. Zeeland is in Michigan's lower western half.

“This type of investigation is very customary in light of the circumstances,” she said. “We've already met with them and pledged our complete cooperation.”

Hot dogs and lunch meat from the Bil Mar plant was linked to 20 deaths and nearly 100 illnesses in 22 states by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) earlier this month.

Listeria typically affects only infants, unborn babies, the elderly and others with weak immune systems. While less common than other forms of food- borne illness, listeria is more lethal and kills about 20% of consumers who fall ill.

The CDC recently theorized the outbreak may have been caused by construction dust from air conditioning repairs at the Michigan plant.

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