UPDATE Taco Bell E. Coli Outbreak

from the Hartford Courant

Lettuce was the most likely source of an outbreak of E. coli linked to Taco Bell. Taco Bell had said contaminated green onions were responsible for the cases of food poisoning - 71 confirmed cases of E. coli in five states, primarily New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.

Follow-up government testing, however, failed to confirm that. Interviews with patients and other work led them to believe that lettuce was the probable culprit. Investigators had considered cheddar cheese, green onions, and ground beef as well. They said Taco Bell's menu, which offers various combinations of the same ingredients, made it difficult to pinpoint the source of the contamination.