Information is not knowledge. —Albert Einstein
From the CDC:
A widely distributed contaminated food product might cause illnesses in a specific region and across the United States. As of January 19, 2012, a total of 68 individuals infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Enteritidis have been reported from 10 states.
The specific food product has not been identified. It is sold at Restaurant Chain A. The good news is the outbreak appears to be over. The CDC and the FDA have started an investigation.
CDC and public health officials in multiple states conducted an epidemiologic study by comparing foods eaten by 48 ill and 103 well persons. Analysis of this study indicates that eating at Mexican-style fast food Restaurant Chain A was associated with illness. Ill persons (62%) were significantly more likely than well persons (17%) to report eating at Restaurant Chain A in the week before illness. No specific food item or ingredient was found to be associated with illness due to common ingredients being used together in many menu items. However, among ill persons eating at Restaurant Chain A, 90% reported eating lettuce, 94% reported eating ground beef, 77% reported eating cheese, and 35% reported eating tomatoes. The epidemic curve seen in the outbreak is consistent with those observed in past produce-related outbreaks—with a sharp increase and decline of ill persons that spanned one to two months. Ground beef was an unlikely source due to the handling and cooking processes used by Restaurant Chain A.
You’ve been warned. Next time I have a hankering for Mexican food, I’m going to Restaurant Chain B.
I’m with you, Pat. What exactly does “Restaurant Chain A” mean????
Taco Bell, Taco John’s, Taco Tico, El Taco. They are all history 🙂
I just ♥ our govt (#barf — no, wait – NOT YET!)
Gee the “food product”, the restaurant, or what area of the country thats affected, not identified! Let’s just panic everyone who eats at ANY fast food Mexican type restaurant! Instead of hurting just a few businesses lets just ruin ALL of them!
I agree Pat S with you and Einstein….”Information is NOT Knowledge”!
A Government agency at its finest!
BTW Pat S…let me know if you figure out which is Restaurant Chain B!!!!
From the CDC:
The number of ill persons identified in each state with the outbreak strain was as follows: Texas (43), Oklahoma (16), Kansas (2), Iowa (1), Michigan (1), Missouri (1), Nebraska (1), New Mexico (1), Ohio (1), and Tennessee (1).
Oh my freaking God!! Really, I think we’re being run by the Mad Hatter in a bunker somewhere. And Pat, once you find Restaurant Chain B, let us know!
According to foodsafetynews.com (CDC Mum About Fast-Food Chain in Salmonella Outbreak), Restaurant Chain A was in trouble before. In August, 2010, 155 people were sickened in a two state salmonella outbreak. Later Restaurant Chain A was identified as Taco Bell.
Also, with respect to the current situation–
I get Food Safety News too >> for recalls, alerts, etc.
www(DOT)foodsafetynews(DOT)com
I’m wondering…does Restaurant A bask in some kind of ‘favored status’ with the DB and/or his administration?
Why else would the restaurant be deemed “Restaurant A”? Seems a bit cloak & dagger to me.
Have I become too cynical?
Or, is this ‘standard operating procedure’ whereby the CDC treats all of us like a mushroom (i.e.-keeps us in the dark and feeds us sh**)? If so, that’s appalling and disturbing!
You know what they say: “Mexican food is an oxymoron.”
Speaking of Mexican Food…
(FoxNews 1/25): East Haven Mayor Joseph Maturo was being interviewed about alleged police discrimination against Hispanics. Asked by a reporter “What are your doing for the Latino community today?”
Maturo’s response: “I might have TACOS when I go home; I’m not quite sure yet.”
It could have been worse, he could have said he just had the Lunch Platter at Resturant “A”.
Geez.
posted 1/26 739am Texas[Pass the Salsa and Chips] Time
And we wonder why we are in trouble….one word…Bureaucrats.
McDonaldzuma’s revenge!
I have a different issue with this bureaucracy idiocy. A study by CDC and public health officials is cited for finding. Okay. Make the study public! Even if it identifies restaurants as A, B, C,… and grocery stores as D, E, F…, etc. Make study public, so the public can see the analysis. Liberals infected in government cite goverernment studies but don’t make them public. That allows the bureaucracy and politicians and judges to say, the government knows best, you don’t need to see the ‘scientific analysis’ and you wouldn’t understand it anyway. Don’t worry your pretty heads. In addition, since the public paid for the study, we should have access to it. There is no national security confidentiality issue here.
Speaking of chains, a few years ago I got horribly sick from a chicken order from a very nationally-known restaurant. Fast forward to Christmas day; I’m at work on the rig. We go to the same restaurant between calls to get some grub. He orders chicken. Not even half an hour after we’ve finished eating, I have to pull over because he has just become violently ill.
Suffice to say, we’re both cooking our own chicken from now on.
I’m flashing back to that short-lived Taco Bell slogan, “Run for the border!” Seems odd to attach your food product to the multifaceted word “run”.