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2007-9-4 12:23:53 |
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The Food and Drug Administration is getting closer to identifying the source of the E. coli outbreak linked to Taco John’s restaurants, the federal agency announced today. The DAN fingerprint of the strain of E coli bacteria associated with the outbreak was traced back to two environmental samples gathered from dairy farms near a lettuce growing area in California's Central Valley, the FDA says in its statement. Epidemiological studies by Minnesota and Iowa health officials had previously identified shredded iceberg lettuce served in the restaurants as the possible source of the outbreak. The current finding indicates that the lettuce may be contaminated by dairy farms near the lettuce growing area. The outbreak sickened approximately 81 people in November and December of 2006, including 33 in Minnesota, 47 in Iowa and one in Wisconsin with 26 hospitalized and two suffering hemolytic uremic syndrome. Hemolytic uremic syndrome is a serious complication of E. coli O157:H7 infection that can cause permanent kidney damage and death. The outbreak did not cause any deaths and no new cases of illness are being reported, according to the FDA. The investigation was conducted by the FDA and the state of California in conjunction with state health officials in Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin. Health officials continue investigating the source of outbreak to determine if and how material from the dairy farms may have contaminated the lettuce growing area, the FDA says. The outbreak is considered over, the FDA says. Taco John's, headquartered in Cheyenne, Wyoming, has franchises in more than 25 states; but the outbreak was associated only with Taco John's restaurants located in Iowa and Minnesota. |
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