It started with just a couple of people at a couple of restaurants in New Jersey, but within a day or two, Taco Bells across New York and New Jersey were being shuttered as dozens came down sick with the E. coli bacteria.
No one is yet suggesting that this particular outbreak will be anything like the 1993 Jack in the Box tragedy, when four kids died from eating tainted meat. It does, however, raise questions as to how it happened and, more importantly, what the source was. Bad meat? Dirty lettuce? Sanitary procedures? (Which seems unlikely, given the distance between the restaurants).Having had an E. coli infection myself when I was young, I can attest to how unpleasant and unfortunate it is -- think lots of pain, dehydration, lack of sleep, inability to eat. And that's in a very mild case; the sickest victims are suffering permanent kidney damage and worse.
Once we know whether all the people who got sick were in fact infected by Taco Bell products, the lawyers will undoubtedly swoop in. By way of reference, one 12-year-old victim of the Jack in the Box E. coli infections got more than $15 million in a settlement -- and that was 1993 dollars.
"Nothing is more important to us than the health and safety of our customers and employees," Taco Bell president Greg 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."Taco Bell is of course a unit of Yum Brands Inc. (NYSE: YUM), which also operates the KFC and Pizza Hut chains. News like this is never good for a listed restaurant operator. Even if it is only a dozen stores out of thousands, it still raises questions about business practices of the parent, questions that often translate into share sales.
Have you eaten at Taco Bell recently in the tri-state area? Have you been feeling unwell? Here is the government's description of what E. coli is and the symptoms it causes.











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
12-05-2006 @ 9:56AM
vadrin said...
no point in being scared you are always going to deal with it as long as you eat fast food, or any restaurant!
12-05-2006 @ 10:19AM
Harold Schleicher said...
In work in a health care place. One of our big things is washing our hands. many things can be transfered from not washing your hands. We have also had a scare at a taco bell. We have to prtect ours selves from theis. Please wash your hands. Es[ecially if your in the health or food industry.
12-05-2006 @ 10:20AM
Do said...
I love Tacos but gave up eating at Taco Bell years ago when I saw such unsanitary habits handling food, I was surprised the health bureau Didn't shut them down
12-05-2006 @ 10:22AM
Cheryl said...
IN Ohio About 15 Years ago workers at a Taco Bell where Putting urine, Cum, and other stuff in the tacos. People were getting sick so someone took their food from Taco Bell and had it tested. Thats why people where getting sick. could thes workers who where let go and are no longer allowed to work in food service ever again be Back?
12-05-2006 @ 10:30AM
niker said...
Could have been a manager or employee trainer whose job it was to go to different Taco Bells for the purpose implied. These T-B's were in a limited area, so it could have been under his/her responsibilty to do this.
12-05-2006 @ 10:30AM
Steve said...
I also gave up eating at Taco Bell, after seeing an employee go to the rest room and not wash his hands. He then proceded to put his hand in the meat he was preparing.
12-05-2006 @ 10:48AM
John Rider said...
Better dogs mean better meat. Next time get a fresh one and not a road kill.
12-05-2006 @ 10:59AM
Stacey Leigh said...
This is tragic, anyone in the food industry should have cleanliness drilled into their heads daily. Even in your own kitchen, cleaning and hand washing...it's just common sense. So many things (e-coli, hepatitis A, etc) are transmitted because of poor food safety and hygiene.
12-05-2006 @ 11:00AM
millerlte said...
I feel for all of you whom still eat at taco bell. I did some college study on this place and they use the lowest quality of meat in all of their products. No wonder why E-coli was present in the food. They dont care what you are eating as long as it tastes good and your a paying customer!
12-05-2006 @ 11:16AM
Vicki said...
I lost a child during the 1993 Jack in the Box outbreak. He died as a result of a secondary infection...never ate at Jack in the Box. So whether this Taco Bell scare is from undercooked ground beef, lettuce, or unsanitary conditions...don't feel safe even if you didn't eat there. Children are the most susceptible. If you have eaten at Taco Bell lately or are close to someone who has, wash your hands and watch your kids. They can pick it up from you from fecal contamination even if you have no symptoms of E-Coli. And shame on Taco Bell if this is from undercooked meat. There is no excuse for that. Regulations are there for a reason. I expect cross-contamination is the most likely suspect where something uncooked comes in contact with the beef prior to it being fully cooked. This happens if the same preparation surface is used for multiple items.
12-05-2006 @ 11:42AM
A.Katz said...
I have found that the comments about food Handlers in tacobell outlets can be applied to restaurants & supermarkets as well. The signs in restrooms should read," employees & customers must wash hands with soap & water. In supremarkets I have seen customers use he facility & walk out without washing their hands & then go & touch fruits & vegetables.
12-05-2006 @ 4:10PM
Haley Smith said...
I have worked for Taco Bell I know they are very careful in how everything is handled. I will still eat there I know this is a bad problem in which I'm sure they won't let happen again
12-05-2006 @ 4:38PM
Bruce said...
I've eaten at Taco Bell and gotten sick several times. I've found mold on their cheese many times. I recommend strongly, DO NOT EAT THERE! Ever wonder what happen to their dog?
12-05-2006 @ 4:39PM
Bruce said...
I've eaten at Taco Bell and gotten sick several times. I've found mold
on their cheese many times. I recommend strongly, DO NOT EAT THERE!
Ever wonder what happen to their dog?
12-06-2006 @ 9:05AM
Brenda said...
There is a reason to be SCARED. I have Crohn's and if I ate there it would probaby kill me. My immune system is so low that an outbreak of e-coli could kill me. So, yes, there is a reason to be scared.
12-06-2006 @ 9:57AM
Maureen said...
About 8 years ago a friend of mine ate at Taco Bell and spent weeks in the Hospital. They said they thought it was the tomatoes. He lost 40 pounds in 2 weeks, he was VERY ill. I work in the restaurant industry and the Board of Health told me many, many years ago that Taco Bell was the most unsafe place to eat so I have always avoided them.
12-06-2006 @ 5:51PM
Shannon Koesterer said...
well a few years ago my sister became sick from e coli and has severe complications due to the contaminated meat....and its nearly impossible to kill all the bacteria in the contaminated beef by cooking it ...it has nothing to do with taco bell itself...the meat was contaminated while the animal was being slaughtered ...i suggest you look up how e coli gets into the food
12-07-2006 @ 11:53AM
Ilona said...
To Bill McGuffy, I just want to say that NO ONE is immune to E-Coli. To everyone else, E-Coli is not necessarily in the meat. Right now Green Onions used at Taco Bells have been found to be contaminated. You have to wait for the results of all the testing and investigations.
12-08-2006 @ 10:20PM
Bill McGuffy said...
Look carefully at who is employed in the food industry these day's Mostly immigrants legal or not from countries whose citizens are mostly immune from the diseases caused by their unsanitary habits. Eventually those of us who servive will develop these same immunities. Don worry be Happy.
12-10-2006 @ 7:53AM
Stringbeans said...
For those who do not care about other children contracting the disease and nonchalantly shrug their shoulders, i pray you will not fall prey to this menace, if your child is hospitalized, bleeding rectally and vomiting blood and even his tears are blood tinged, you will get off your butt and rally for safer food supply,unless you have experienced the emotional suffering not knowing if your child could survive it, please do not make light comments about it. Apathy is contagious, if you have nothing to contribute, SHUT UP.