DHSS Press Release |
Date: December 15, 2006 DHSS-131-2006 |
| Vincent P. Meconi, Secretary Jay Lynch, Communications Director (302) 255-9037, Pager (302) 247-8523 Email: jay.lynch@state.de.us |
Contact: Reporters Phone: 302-744-4907 |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
45 TACO BELL EMPLOYEES AND ONE SUSPECT CASE TEST NEGATIVE FOR E. COLI
Update as of 2 p.m.
Tests results today from the Delaware Public Health Laboratory determined that one suspect case of E. coli and 45 Taco Bell employees working in Delaware do not have E. coli. Four employees who have not provided stool samples are not approved by DPH to return to work. The Division of Public Health (DPH) required employee stool tests from two Taco Bell restaurants associated with customer illnesses. At this time, Delaware has a total of two confirmed E. coli cases for the December outbreak and none suspected.
The restaurant locations at 379 East Chestnut Hill Plaza, Newark, DE and 3902 Concord Pike, Wilmington, closed for sanitation Dec. 8. DPH provided food safety training at the two restaurants Dec. 11 and 12. The sites passed reinspection and resumed operations Dec. 13 with replacement employees from other Taco Bell locations pending today's lab results.
These developments are the culmination of the following four interventions DPH required in order for the two restaurants to resume business.
- Clean and sanitize the entire facility.
- Discard and resupply foods currently on the restaurant premises.
- Collect stool samples from all food workers for testing for E. coli 0157. Any symptomatic workers or culture-positive workers must not work until their labs tests are negative for E. coli.
- Provide enhanced training in proper food handling and hygiene to food workers.
DPH inspected all of Delaware's Taco Bell locations Dec. 5, upon first notice of the East Coast E. coli outbreak, and reinspected again on Dec. 8. All Taco Bells in Delaware are currently open for business.
For complete information on all E. coli investigations related to Taco Bell, go to www.dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/index.html under "How Do I" on the home page.
Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.
