Taco Bell Restaurant Chain Beef Tacos 1999
In mid-November, 1999, a cluster of children with infections caused by the same strain of E. coli O157 was investigated. Case-control studies found an association between illness and eating a beef tacos at Taco Bell restaurants. A traceback investigation implicated a beef supplier; a farm investigation was not possible because of inadequate recordkeeping by the supplier. This outbreak illustrated the importance of hospital surveillance to identify clusters and molecular surveillance to link related, geographically widespread, cases.
- Outbreak began:
- November 1999
- Affected Country:
- US
- Affected States/Territories:
- California, Arizona, Minnesota, South Dakota
- Organism(s):
-
- E. coli O157:H7
- Vehicle(s):
- Beef, Ground Beef, Tacos, Hard Shell
- Molecular Results Available:
- Unknown
- Test Results:
- None
- Location(s):
- Restaurant, Private Homes
- Brand Name(s):
- Product Subject to Recall:
- Unknown
-
- Recall Links:
- None
- Total ill:
- 21
- Number ill by Case Definition Known:
- Unknown
- Number Laboratory Confirmed Cases:
- N/A
- Number Probable Cases:
- N/A
- Number Possible Cases:
- N/A
- Anyone Hospitalized:
- Yes
- Number Hospitalized:
- 5
- Any Deaths:
- No
- Number Dead:
- 0
- Any References:
- Yes