Taco Bell had temporarily closed one of its fast-food restaurant in Middlesex County, N.J., and four in Suffolk County, N.Y. as a precautionary measure against E.coli., and is working with New Jersey health authorities seeking the cause of an outbreak of E. Coli which has sickened nearly a dozen people, six of whom remain in hospital.
Eleven confirmed cases, all in central New Jersey and mostly affecting children, were reported by the Newark Star-Ledger on Sunday.
In two cases, the infection developed into hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS, which can cause permanent kidney damage.
Taco Bell is a unit of Yum Brands Inc..