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Quote, originally posted by USA Today »Infections by E. coli bacteria rise to 19 in New JerseyUpdated 12/5/2006 1:29 PM ETTRENTON, N.J. (AP) — An E. coli outbreak that has sickened at least 22 people — two of them seriously — was linked by health investigators Monday to three Taco Bell restaurants in New Jersey. Investigators also were examining whether an outbreak of 14 cases on Long Island was connected to the fast-food chain.The people who fell ill in New Jersey had eaten at one of the fast-food restaurants between Nov. 17 and Nov. 28, authorities said."We have to find the food they all had in common," said David Papi, director of health for Middlesex County.Five of the New Jersey victims were in the hospital Monday, including two in serious or critical condition with hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can permanently damage the kidneys, officials said.Twenty-two of those infected in New Jersey, including two restaurant employees who tested positive for E. coli but did not get sick, ate at a Taco Bell in South Plainfield; another ate at a Taco Bell in Edison; and one ate at a Taco Bell in Franklin Township, authorities said.In Long Island, an E. coli outbreak sickened at least 14 people, including 10 who ate at Taco Bell. Health officials said eight restaurants in Suffolk and Nassau Counties were closed as a precaution. In New Jersey, the South Plainfield restaurant was closed.Greg Creed, the president of Irvine, Calif.-based Taco Bell Corp, said the company was sanitizing the restaurants and replacing the food ingredients before reopening, he said."Nothing is more important to us than the health and safety of our customers and employees," Creed said in a statement. "We are obviously very concerned about the well-being of all those who have been affected by this incident and will continue to work closely with health authorities to get to the root cause of the issue."Continued at link...Source: http://www.usatoday.com/news/h...sp=34

eh o well, i got taco bell yesturday..b4 the anouncement came out but i'm in PA (15 min from NJ)

As their parent company is named, yum! Glad I don't subject myself to that punishment, Taco Bell is crap!

They actually had some stuff on their ads lately that was intriguing me...I'd started to contemplate giving them a shot...I believe we can safely put that mistaken thought to rest..

Quote, originally posted by coldmm803 »eh o well, i got taco bell yesturday..b4 the anouncement came out but i'm in PA (15 min from NJ)Uh oh! They're now reporting an outbreak in PA! Quote, originally posted by Reuters »Pennsylvania Health Dept. launches E.coli probeLOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Pennsylvania Health Department said on Tuesday it had begun an investigation into four cases of an E. coli in Montgomery County.In three of the cases, individuals confirmed eating at a Taco Bell restaurant, the fast food chain owned by Yum Brands Inc..Investigations of over 50 potential cases of E. coli infection are already underway by state health departments in New Jersey and New York. The source of those outbreaks has not been determined, but the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services said a number of those infected had eaten at Taco Bell.The New York State Department of Health said on Tuesday that health officials there were also looking at Taco Bell restaurants. Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/200..._dc_1

One more reason why I don't eat fast food. Especially Taco Hell.

Quote, originally posted by redlava »One more reason why I don't eat fast food. Especially Taco Hell.It never fails to make me laugh to read something like this. No offense to you in particular, redlava because it's a logical mindset.But keep in mind, folks, that this is a naturally occurring bacteria. It can be anywhere. It's no reflection upon Taco Bell that the bug happened to strike there. If you recall, there have been outbreaks in name-brand vegetables and numerous other restaurants. The only sure way to totally avoid ever coming in contact with one of these bugs is to produce your own foodstuffs and know everyything you put into or onto them.

not only that but you can get it in your household aswell...i remember a place around ontario that had e.coli i believe..in their water system

The most common cause of e. coli poisoning is UNDERCOOKED FOOD! Thorough washing of produce, safe handling and storage procedures for raw proteins (for example, don't store raw chicken above produce, if the juices drip on the produce, you just contaminated it. Store raw meats and poultry BELOW ready-to-eat foods), and thorough and proper cooking of proteins is the easiest way to prevent it.While they cannot positively blame the food at TB for the poisoning, if it does come down to it being sourced from the food, the most likely culprit is either mishandling of the food and cross-contamination at the supplier, or inadequate cooking and/or preparation of the food at the restaurant, or a combination of both.

I agree that it's mishandling of the food at some step in the process. My point was simply that with it having occurred at several sites, it was not likely to have been within the restaurant itself but rather was likely introduced in a product that would not have required cooking (a vegetable) that was sourced from a supplier.

Quote, originally posted by millster »I agree that it's mishandling of the food at some step in the process. My point was simply that with it having occurred at several sites, it was not likely to have been within the restaurant itself but rather was likely introduced in a product that would not have required cooking (a vegetable) that was sourced from a supplier.Ah.Yes.I concur.