Gorton's Investigation Concludes Children's Tampering Prompted Recall

Investigation by FBI and FDA concludes that pills found in recalled fish fillets were herbal supplements admittedly placed there by one of the Rowan's children. Originally, Tracy Rowan, the mother of the children, denied her children's involvement.

According to news reports, the FBI and FDA have closed their investigation and are not seeking criminal charges against the Pennsylvania family whose false claim launched the multi-state recall of over 1,000 cases of Gorton's fish fillets back in February. A Digital Journal report on March 1, 2008 covered the recall information and statement given by Gorton's. After finding pills in fish fillets that her daughter had prepared, Rowan sought medical assistance. They were cleared after over three hours of medical attention. The mother supported the 9-year-old daughter's claims, who had prepared the fish, that she had not placed the pills in the product. The mother also originally denied having any pills in the home matching those found in the fish. Thorough investigation revealed that one of the children had admitted to placing the herbal supplements in the fish, although which child and why was not released. The herbal supplements were said to be safe, according to an earlier March news article. It is still unclear if Gorton's will pursue private litigation against the family for monetary costs incurred.