Chopped lettuce likely link for Taco Bell illness on East
Coast
Lettuce is the most likely suspect in a Taco Bell E. coli
outbreak that led to 71 cases in five states along the East Coast,
the U. S. Food and Drug Administration announced Dec. 13.
Chopped lettuce likely link for Taco Bell illness East Coast
Lettuce is the most likely suspect in a Taco Bell E. coli outbreak that led to 71 cases in five states along the East Coast, the U. S. Food and Drug Administration announced Dec. 13.
Studies by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found links to the bacteria in shredded lettuce, cheddar cheese and cooked ground beef. Due to a number of factors, including the food processing techniques used for cheese and beef, the CDC concluded that lettuce is the most likely culprit of the illnesses, though an investigation continues.
On the heels of the recent spinach scare in San Benito and Monterey Counties, Congressman Sam Farr was quick to issue a statement about the possible lettuce contaminiation.
“While the FDA has made clear that their investigation is ongoing, they announced this afternoon that the outbreak of E. coli related to Taco Bell meals is most likely statistically related to chopped lettuce in the meals,” Farr wrote. “I am assured that appropriate government officials are working to further define the source of the contamination.”
He made clear that the chopped lettuce has not yet been linked to a specific farm or area of the counties.
“I have a close working relationship with the lettuce industry in Salinas Valley and I know they will go above and beyond the call to resolve the problem once the source of any contaimination is identified…” he said.
At first onions or scallions were thought to be the cause of the outbreak. Its analysis had shown so far that “onions of any type are probably not linked to this outbreak,” the CDC said Dec. 12.
The announcement came one day after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it could not confirm that scallions were the cause of the problem, as previously suspected, and that it was not ruling out any food as a possible culprit. The CDC determines the likely source in a food poisoning outbreak by interviewing ill and well restaurant patrons about what foods they consumed. By comparing the information, they can show statistical links to certain food items consumed.
In an open letter to customers published in USA Today, The New York Times and other newspapers, Taco Bell President Greg Creed said he would support the creation of a coalition of food suppliers, competitors, government and other experts to explore ways to safeguard the food supply chain and public health.
Creed underscored the safety mantra in media interviews, telling Associated Press Television that he had assured his daughter, a college freshman in New York, and her friends that Taco Bell food is safe.
“I can assure you, I would not tell my daughter that unless I absolutely believed it,” Creed said.
On Dec. 12, several lawmakers, including Democratic New York Sens. Charles Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton, called on federal agencies create a joint task force to examine the E. coli outbreak and recommend changes in laws and regulations to prevent contamination of food.
Bryan Silbermann, president of the Produce Marketing Association, a trade group that represents restaurants, farmers and other companies in the produce supply chain, said such an industry coalition already exists.
The group was formed two years ago and has been particularly active since September, when three people died and more than 200 became ill because of a spinach-related E. coli outbreak.
“The largest restaurant and supermarket chains have been active in this process,” Silbermann said. “As far as I’m aware, Taco Bell has not been involved.”
Taco Bell spokesman Rob Poetsch said the company believes its food is safe because green onions were removed from use last week and restaurants have been sanitized. No additional cases of Taco Bell patrons falling ill with E. coli have been reported since Dec. 2, according to the FDA.
Some Taco Bell regulars weren’t worried.
After being harvested, most produce is moved to processing plants where it is washed, sorted and cooled for transport to supermarkets or distribution centers around the country.
Associated Press Writer William Kates in Syracuse, N.Y., and Alex Veiga, AP business writer, contributed to this story.
