There are reports of a possible food poisoning situation at the U.S. Penitentiary in Canaan Township, Pennsylvania.  According to the Wayne Independent though, the penitentiary officials are downplaying what it perceives as rumors surrounding the situaiton:

“There is no truth in the rumors you have heard regarding any deaths or sickness from veggies from N.J.,” said K. Straesser, executive assistant at USP Canaan.  “Over the past four days there have been inmates with gastrointestinal virus symptoms. Institution medical staff continue to evaluate and appropriately treat the inmates for the symptoms that appear to dissipate after 48-72 hours. We routinely take inmates to local hospitals for medical evaluation. We have inmates that have been taken to the local hospital for a medical evaluation, but test results are not available yet,” Straesser wrote.

An earlier article in the Scranton (PA) Times-Tribune had a slightly different angle, noting that officials stated that “lab work” on several ill inmates was pending.  At that time, Straesser reportedly stated that a formal investigation into the incident was NOT underway.