DHSS Press Release |
Date: December 13, 2006 DHSS-128-2006 |
| 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
TACO BELLS LINKED WITH ILLNESS PASS RE-INSPECTION
Update as of 11:15 a.m.Next update 3 p.m.
Two Delaware Taco Bell restaurants associated with cases of foodborne illness passed re-inspections by Delaware's Division of Public Health (DPH) today and completed mandatory safety interventions. The Taco Bells at 3902 Concord Pike, Wilmington and 379 E Chestnut Hill Plaza, Newark completed food safety training yesterday provided by DPH food safety inspectors. The two restaurants will operate with the replacement employees from other Taco Bell locations until lab results are available on stool samples provided by regularly scheduled employees. Results are expected later this week.
DPH inspected all of Delaware's Taco Bell locations Dec. 8, upon notice of the East Coast E. coli outbreak. The four interventions, recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are as follows:
- 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.
These laboratory results will be available at the end of the week. Symptomatic workers without a positive culture will be able to work in a non-food handling capacity, consistent with DPH and FDA code.
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.
