"The U.S. Department of Agriculture gave a California poultry producer until Thursday to correct problems that led to a salmonella outbreak in 18 states, or be forced to shut down three processing plants."

"The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service sent the letter Monday to Foster Farms, based in Livingston, Calif. At least 278 cases of salmonella have been reported, most of them in California. The agency gave the company 72 hours to take corrective action at its California facilities, or it would withdraw its inspectors.

Poultry plants aren’t permitted to operate without USDA inspectors, who are considered essential government employees and have continued to work during the partial government shutdown. Dozens of inspectors work at the Foster Farms plant in Livingston, one of the largest in the country."

Curtis Tate reports for the McClatchy Washington bureau October 9, 2013. [2]