The Justice Department is investigating conduct at the Abbott Laboratories infant-formula plant in Sturgis, Michigan, following its shutdown last year that worsened a nationwide formula shortage.
Attorneys with the Justice Department’s consumer-protection branch are conducting the criminal investigation, sources exclusively told the Wall Street Journal Friday.
The branch, which has criminal as well as civil authority, was involved last year in a settlement with Abbott that allowed its Sturgis plant to resume operations after Food and Drug Administration inspectors found a potentially deadly bacteria there, according to WSJ.
"DOJ has informed us of its investigation and we’re cooperating fully," Scott Stoffel, a spokesman for Abbott, told The Detroit News.
Abbott representatives did not provide details of the investigation or how many people it employees in Michigan.
The Sturgis plant is the country's largest manufacturing plant for infant formula.
Abbott's recalled products included powder formula sold under the labels Similac, Alimentum and EleCare labels after four children became ill with bacterial infections and two died.
Several Abbott employees are accused of manufacturing the baby formula under conditions that did not meet regulatory standards for quality and safety, according to a federal court filing.
A Detroit News report dove into a whistleblower claim last year on how a stun gun incident at Abbott's Michigan plant led to a nationwide baby formula recall.
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