Nestle stops production at Va. plant

DANVILLE, Va. - As many as 250 workers at the Nestle plant in Danville could have their jobs affected by the halt in production of Toll House cookie dough products.

Nestle USA announced the halt in response to an investigation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration into the product.

Federal health officials belief the refrigerated cookie dough is linked to at the illnesses of at least 65 people in 29 states since March.

Nestle has voluntarily recalled its Toll House products pending the outcome of the investigation.

Company spokeswoman Roz O'Hearn says there are 550 employees at the plant, about half involved in Toll House products.

The workers who make frozen pasta won't be affected by the halt in production.

Nestle officials say they hope to resume production soon, but will have to wait for the results of the investigation.

Virtually all the company's Toll House products are made in Danville.