At Least 3 Dozen Injured at Taco Bell from E. Coli
At least 3 dozen people in the New York/New Jersey area have become ill as a result of eating green onions at Taco Bell. The fast food chain, a unit of Yum Brands Inc., said preliminary tests showed three samples of green onions were found to be "presumptive positive" for the deadly E. coli 0157:H7 strain. Tests were not yet conclusive, the company said, but it closed nine restaurants to sanitize them and replace food ingredients. All of the injured customers became ill between November 17 and 28.
Five were in the hospital Monday, including a 10-year-old boy and a 5-year-old girl who were diagnosed with hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can permanently damage the kidneys, officials said. The boy was in serious condition, while the girl's status had improved to stable, said Stephanie Brown, the Middlesex County epidemiologist.
E. coli is found in the feces of humans and livestock. Most E. coli infections are associated with undercooked meat. The bacteria also can be found on sprouts or leafy vegetables such as spinach that are contaminated due to coming in contact with the feces of livestock.
E. coli 0157:H7 causes an estimated 73,000 cases of infection and 60 deaths in the United States each year.
Given the present state of the agricultural industry, any food can become contaminated with harmful bacteria.