Green Onions and E. Coli?

Ready Pac, supplier of green onions to Taco Bell, has stopped all shipments following a preliminary and inconclusive test for E. coli O157:H7, which Taco Bell conducted. Taco Bell also removed green onions from its restaurants. This action follows more than 60 cases of sickness reported in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware.

According to Ready Pac’s VP marketing, Steve Dickstein, green onions are produced in a limited production run exclusively for Taco Bell in one section of Ready Pac’s Florence, NJ, plant. “All raw and processed green onions have been removed from the plant as part of our precautionary measures.”

FDA has been working with state authorities, CDC, Taco Bell, Ready Pac and other distributors to help determine a source. In view of the inconclusive testing so far, FDA is exploring other potential sources of contamination. These include cilantro, cheddar cheese, blended cheese, yellow onions, tomatoes and lettuce.

According to an updated report from CDC, samples of the green onions obtained by the restaurant chain tested negative for E. coli O157. In addition, no other food item has a definite or preliminary test indicating the presence of E. coli O157.

To be safe, Taco Bell has switched its produce supplier in the affected states. FDA is also working with CDC and Taco Bell Corp. and its suppliers and distributors to obtain any further relevant information on sources and distribution.