The FDA is under fire for not publicly warning about deadly E. coli outbreak linked to romaine lettuce that sickened 89 people across 15 states, raising questions about food safety protocols.

Nine families are suing a California-based produce company after more than 90 cases of serious E. coli infections were found by the FDA. These families, as well as food safety experts and former FDA officials,

A foodborne illness linked to lettuce ripped across 15 states last November, sickening dozens of people and killing one. But the federal government chose not to publicize it.