Nestle denies access to files

Sweets company withholds records sought by the FDA for its investigation of E. Coli outbreak.

DOWNTOWN — Glendale-based Nestle USA refused to turn over records to the federal Food and Drug Administration related to a plant now under investigation in connection with a recent E. Coli outbreak, according to documents released by the agency Friday.

When an inspector noticed “three live ant-like insects” near a powdered sugar dump station, dirty stainless steel utensils in the “cookie dough cleaning area” and “water or other clear liquid dripping from an overhead line in the liquid egg receiving bay” in 2006, some of the inspector’s requests for additional information were denied, according to the FDA.

The inspector inquired about the use of a camera, pest control records and a complaint log, among other records.

The agencies are continuing their investigation into the outbreak, which has sickened 69 people in 29 states since March.