Further, the FDA has known for weeks and months that whatever they found in that production plant was NOT the strain of bacteria that had caused some infants to get sick and several to die (I'm not minimizing those illnesses and deaths), but the facility has not been allowed to resume production!
I've been through more than a few FDA inspections. According to FDA's 483 (the report they issue citing deficiencies during inspections and for cause) the specific strain of bacteria that affected those infants WAS in fact in the Abbott Labs plant in Sturgis, MI.
Cronobacter spp. was found on equipment and in environmental sampling.
That kind of thing generally prompts a more in-depth inspection and that's when the old standby "Quality Control issues" comes to play.
PPE wasn't sufficient to protect product from people (definitely a no-no since people are generally filthy); clean in place (CIP) processes were deficient; equipment (dryers) showed a history of deterioration; hazard analyses in consumer complaint files were not conducted, and standard operating procedures were not followed in at least one instance. I wanted to attach the 483 to this post, but it's too large - simple machines won't allow it. If you want to read it, just Google "FDA 483 Abbott Labs Sturgis, MI" and it'll be on the FDA.gov web site. FDA 483s are public record.
So while FDA is in fact another government agency with its own politics and bureaucracy, in this case the Abbott Labs plant in Sturgis, MI had some problems sufficient to shut it down. Usually, that kind of thing is done to get senior management's attention. FDA will often be OK with the company calling it a "voluntary" shutdown pending mitigation completion - that keeps the stockholders from having a stroke.
Keep in mind that FDA has the authority to come in with U.S. marshals, seize computers, product, records, and cart people off to jail pending arraignment. They don't often play that card, but they can.
And they do a great job in intimidating the hell out of companies like Abbott Labs.