Ringing The Taco Bell

Yesterday, Taco Bell shut down all 15 of its Philadelphia restaurants after E. coli — which has sickened diners in New York, New Jersey and Montgomery County — was found at a City Restaurant. (One might say this is just desserts for eating at Taco Bell. One would be right.)

The shutdown of the 15 Taco Bells is a voluntary measure, done because the E. coli is suspected to come from green onions that were shipped to a Burlington City warehouse. The first three sickened Montco diners ate at the Gilbertsville Taco Bell, while a fourth — who wasn’t interviewed until yesterday — ate at a suburban Philadelphia restaurant.

Over in Jersey, Taco Bells in Camden County aren’t being closed, although Inquirer reporter Marie McCullough writes that people weren’t too interested in buying tacos:

During the busy noontime rush at the Cherry Hill Mall food court, holiday shoppers stood in long lines for pizza, sushi, Philly-style cheesesteaks - but not soft tacos. Only three customers walked up over a 30-minute period.

One, Angel Hernandez of Pennsauken, had not heard the news about the possibly dangerous green onions. He was surprised but not deterred.

“I eat here all the time,” Hernandez said, paying for his soft-taco combo. “I’ve never had a problem.”

Joe McCarron of Coatesville heard about the outbreak but didn’t know all nine Taco Bells in Montgomery County were closed.

“I thought it was one specific place, not the whole enchilada, so to speak,” he quipped.

After learning the extent of the problem, he drove off to get lunch at Chick-Fil-A.

Hey! The Inquirer owes Taco Bell like $5.59 for the business it drove away!

Update: All nine Camden County Taco Bells are now closed.

E. coli believed found in city [Inquirer]