Update on Foodborne Illness Outbreak; Suspect Food Product Removed from All Mighty Taco Locations on October 6th

Modified: October 11, 2016 5:47pm

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10/11/2016

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PRESS RELEASE

From the Office of the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Gale R. Burstein

Date October 11, 2016                               

CONTACT: Mary C. St. Mary/Mary.StMary@Erie.Gov

Phone: 716.858.4941/ Mobile: 716.253.3925

Update on Foodborne Illness Outbreak

Suspect Food Product Removed from all Mighty Taco Locations on October 6th

ERIE COUNTY, NY— The ongoing investigation into gastrointestinal illnesses associated with consuming food from Mighty Taco, has identified 140 individuals reporting symptoms consisting primarily of nausea and vomiting after consuming refried beans from a Mighty Taco location in Erie County between the dates of September 30th and October 6th, 2016. As this is an ongoing investigation, this information may change as additional reports are received.

“There were no reports of illness associated with meals consumed at Mighty Taco after October 6th,” said Dr. Gale Burstein, Erie County Commissioner of Health.  “Suspect food products related to this investigation were removed from all Mighty Taco locations on October 6th and subsequently discarded.”

Testing of the suspected lots of refried beans will take place at the New York State Department of Health’s Wadsworth Center laboratories in Albany. There is no estimate as to when those results will be available.

“During our onsite inspections of Mighty Taco’s Erie County locations, no additional food products or food handling practices were implicated,” said Jeffrey Jurewicz, Senior Public Health Sanitarian. “Mighty Taco’s food safety inspection record with our Department, across all their locations in Erie County, has been exceptional.” 

The ongoing investigation is being conducted jointly with the New York State Department of Health (“NYSDOH”), Niagara County Department of Health, and the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. Additional information will be shared as it becomes available.

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For More Information:

Erie County Department of Health

New York State Department of Health Wadsworth Center

New York State Department of Health

Food Facility Inspection Reports - This information is searchable by facility name, first letter of the facility name or municipality