Taco John food poisoning traced to Central Valley

WASHINGTON, D.C.
January 12, 2007 12:02pm

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says it’s closer to figuring out the source of illness for the Taco John E. coli outbreak late last year in the Midwest – and the answer may be in a farm field in the Central Valley.

Health officials have DNA-matched the strain of E. coli bacteria associated with the outbreak with two samples gathered from dairy farms near a lettuce growing area in California's Central Valley, the FDA says.

The agency did not respond to CVBT’s phone and e-mail requests to offer a more specific location.

The investigation is ongoing, including obtaining additional samples, to determine if and how material from the dairy farms may have contaminated the lettuce growing area, the FDA says.

The outbreak sickened approximately 81 individuals in November and December of 2006. Twenty-six people were hospitalized, and two suffered hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious complication that can cause permanent kidney damage and death. No deaths have been associated with the outbreak. No new cases of illness are being reported and the outbreak is now considered over.

Taco John's is headquartered in Cheyenne, Wyo., and has franchises in more than 25 states; however, the outbreak was associated only with Taco John's restaurants located in Iowa and Minnesota.