Dozens sickened after eating at Taco John's (Iowa)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16152562/

Near three dozen people fell ill, including 14 who were hospitalized, with symptoms consistent with infection by the E. coli bacteria after eating at a Taco John’s restaurant, a local health department said.

Test results were expected Monday.

The Taco John’s restaurant has removed any suspected ingredients from its menu and sanitized the facility, said Tom O’Rourke, the Black Hawk County Health Department director.

Brian Dixon, vice president of marketing for Taco John’s, said the company had sent a representative to review cooking and food storage procedures, and to examine cleaning reports and employee health records.

Taco John’s is based in Cheyenne, Wyo. It has no connection to Taco Bell, which has been linked to an outbreak of a harsh strain of E. coli that has sickened more than 60 people in the Northeast.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16145584/

Produce growers balk at calls for regulation

First it was spinach. Then tomatoes. Now possibly green onions.

Over the past three months, fresh produce has been the culprit in one episode of food-borne illness after another, the latest an E. coli outbreak that appears to be linked to green onions served at Taco Bell restaurants in the Northeast. More than 60 people have been sickened in that outbreak.

The patchwork of federal and state regulations that is supposed to ensure food safety has become less effective as the nation's produce supply has grown increasingly industrial. Three months after the spinach scare, there is no agreement on what should be done to reduce health risks from the nation's fruits and vegetables even as each episode of illness has heightened a sense of urgency.

The number of produce-related outbreaks of food-borne illness has increased from about 40 in 1999 to 86 in 2004, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest. Americans are now more likely to get sick from eating contaminated produce than from any other food item, the center said.

Another issue I want to see the Dems take up - our food safety badly needs stronger regulation and oversight.

[EFerrari]

1. Tacos in IOWA?

You're right about our food supply.

[tridim]

2. That doesn't surprise me at all

Taco John's isn't exactly known for it's cleanliness, although I haven't been there since college.

Their Potato Ole's are pretty tasty though.

[liberal N proud]

7. I lived on Taco Johns in college, the little shack was about a block from the Fraternity House

It was probably the beer that kept us from getting sick

Potato Ole's and Soft Shells

[TexasProgresive]

9. If it's like the Taco Hell problem it has nothing

to do with cleanliness. The e coli is coming in on fresh raw produce that cannot be sanitized. The Pukes are making us like a 3rd world country in more ways then one. Soon warnings will go out that when you visit America- DON'T DRINK THE WATER!

[Bitwit1234]

3. ANY REGULATIONS ON BUSINESSES

Since the republicans stole power every regulation concerning the safety of food, air, water seems to have been either drastically cut or done away with. Won't it be wonderful to get a government back that has the PUBLIC interests instead of BUSINESS intersts at heart.

[RamboLiberal]

4. Yep - I'm getting tired of feeling like I'm playing Russian

Roulette when I eat a salad, chicken, steak, burgers, eggs, etc.

[Mabus]

5. Taco Tuesday is a tradition around here

Two tacos for around a $1. Taco John's is so much better than Taco Bell.

Unless it is affecting the local Kansas franchise we will be buying tacos tomorrow.

[krispos42]

10. Mmmm.... 59¢ tacos....

<drool>

And Potato Olés with nacho cheese dipping sauce...

<double drool>

[Mabus]

12. And then there are Thursdays and Taco Bravos

with the requisitie Potato Olés. Hmmmmmmmmmm.

[iconoclastic cat]

6. Everybody: E Coli aside, avoid sleazy taco joints on principle. nt

[Mabus]

13. Taco John's is not a sleazy taco joint

It is a midwest franchise. Around here, they keep the stores clean. If it weren't for places like Taco John's and their weekly sales a lot of students would go hungry.

[tridim]

15. You're not talking about the TJ's in Lawrence are you?

Because I remember it being not so clean. That was in the early 90's.

Maybe they cleaned up the place?

[Mabus]

17. There are now three of them

Originally there was just the one on 6th street. There are two on 23rd. They remodeled and cleaned it up. It reminds me a little of a hypermart now - chrome and plastic wood. We were at the 6th street a couple of months ago and got annoyed because they kept sweeping the place. I don't know if it was boredom or what but they kept busy.

[krispos42]

14. Yeah, it's a franchise, and they keep the place pretty clean

Both the restraunt and the workers. At least the two that I've been too. And one I went to on a regular basis, because it was the fastest place to get lunch during my half-hour lunch break. Zip a mile down (light-free 45mph speed limit) Highway 14, left at the light, right into the drive-thru, then left out of the parking lot, right on red, zip back down to my work, get inside with about 18 minutes to spare. Much on olé's on the way back. Mmmmm... olés....

Never had a digestive problem with them, either, that I can recall. Just tasty and fast.

[iconoclastic cat]

18. lol--okay, you all win! Long live tacos! nt

[AngryAmish]

8. Isn't this kinda "Water Is Wet" type headline?

Does anyone feel good after eating at Taco John's?

Potato Ole's are very tasty, tho.

[Moochy]

11. John

>Does anyone feel good after eating at Taco John's?

John feels good after you eat at Taco John's. :+

[demnan]

16. They better start pulling scallions off the grocery shelf

before this whole thing gets out of hand.

[RamboLiberal]

20. I think I'll stick to buying them in the summer from the local

farmer's market if I want to eat raw.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

19. Seems like you're asking for it, if you eat tacos in the john.

My apologies to those named John...

[ozymandius]

21. There's a place on Route 11 - "John's Feculent Tacos" - can't miss it

for the cloud of flies over the place.

[David__77]

22. I love Taco John's

I live in CA and we don't have them, but any time I get to Reno I eat there, as well as when I visit family back in South Dakota. It blows Taco Bell out of the water. There was a really scary one in Casper, Wyoming, however. I'm not sure that proper employee hygiene is at issue in this case.

[spanone]

23. Taco mafia? WTF is going on? Very Strange.

[Liberal In Texas]

24. A stop at Taco John's was manditory during any trip to Nebraska.

But alas, a few years ago they took the enchilada off the menu. It's just not the same. The soft shells are still good, but on some trips now, I don't even bother to go.