US federal testing has failed to confirm green onions as the source of an outbreak of E. coli that sickened 64 people who ate in Taco Bell restaurants in the Northeast.
Taco Bell continued to exclude scallions from its ingredient list despite the FDA’s finding. “We won’t be considering any changes to our decision until the FDA and CDC conclude their investigation,” Taco Bell spokesman Rob Poetsch said.
Taco Bell President Greg Creed said that independent testing on ingredients served in the chain’s restaurants did not indicate the presence of E. coli bacteria.
Fedral doctor says it could be a few more days before it’s known whether the outbreak is over. But he adds that there have been no reports of illnesses in the past week.
As a precaution, Taco Bell said it had switched to a new produce supplier for the affected states.
?Based on this testing and all that we know today, I can reassure you that all Taco Bell food is safe, and strict standards are being upheld in all of our restaurants,? said the company?s president, Greg Creed.