# Think outside the Bun! Taco Hell poisons Customers in NJ! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 4, 2006, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-outside-the-bun-taco-hell-poisons-customers-in-nj/382823 "2006-12-04T17:02:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2006, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-outside-the-bun-taco-hell-poisons-customers-in-nj/382823/41 "2006-12-05T20:28:43Z")
[QUOTE=RTFirefly] _Oh where, oh where has our OP gone, Oh where, oh where can he be?_ šŸ˜ƒ [/QUOTE] I believe the phrase is ā€œhe ran off with tail between legsā€ to post more gibberish in the [Kennedy thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=398439). Jim ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2006, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-outside-the-bun-taco-hell-poisons-customers-in-nj/382823/42 "2006-12-05T20:37:32Z")
Are you people paying .99 fir your Taco Bell? Tacoā€™s are only .69 Taco Supreme .89. Until two years ago the Bell near me still had .39 Taco Wednesdayā€™s. ---
**Author:** ![Caridwen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c89c15/32.png) [@Caridwen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caridwen)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2006, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-outside-the-bun-taco-hell-poisons-customers-in-nj/382823/43 "2006-12-05T20:41:24Z")
[QUOTE=tdn] Sure could. Even so, what are the chances that the tainted lettuce would end up at only one chain? Thatā€™s not a rhetorical question, BTW. I really donā€™t know how food distribution works. [/QUOTE] Mode of transmission could be fecal-oral, so itā€™s very possible. You could have simple diairrhea, a UTI, or more serious. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2006, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-outside-the-bun-taco-hell-poisons-customers-in-nj/382823/44 "2006-12-05T21:32:42Z")
[QUOTE=Caridwen] You could have simple diairrheaā€¦ [/QUOTE] An unfortunate term, not unlike having a simple bazooka wound. ---
**Author:** ![Caridwen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c89c15/32.png) [@Caridwen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caridwen)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2006, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-outside-the-bun-taco-hell-poisons-customers-in-nj/382823/45 "2006-12-05T22:16:40Z")
True! I meant a mild case of diairrhea. ---
**Author:** ![lowbrass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dc4da7/32.png) [@lowbrass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lowbrass)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2006, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-outside-the-bun-taco-hell-poisons-customers-in-nj/382823/46 "2006-12-05T22:30:35Z")
[QUOTE=wolfman] Are you people paying .99 fir your Taco Bell? Tacoā€™s are only .69 Taco Supreme .89. Until two years ago the Bell near me still had .39 Taco Wednesdayā€™s. [/QUOTE] Fast food chains make their money on the drinks. Theyā€™ll always ask you if you want a drink with your order. Iā€™ve never heard them ask if you want a 69 cent taco with your order. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-outside-the-bun-taco-hell-poisons-customers-in-nj/382823/47 "2006-12-06T00:05:57Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] My wife reminded me we use to eat at that Taco bell if it is the one in the Kmart Lot. [/QUOTE] Oh, Iā€™ve been to that one. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-outside-the-bun-taco-hell-poisons-customers-in-nj/382823/48 "2006-12-06T02:02:55Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] IANAD: For what it is worth, it mostly affects the young and the old. Even if you ate contaminated meat, as a healthy adult you are likely to just have the equivalent of a stomach virus. My wife reminded me we use to eat at that Taco bell if it is the one in the Kmart Lot. But I have not been there since 1994. Jim [/QUOTE] The first one they were talking about, the one with the most sickies, is indeed in the Kmart lot. Middlesex Mall in South Plainfield. I have not been to that one in a long time but I pass by it all the time. The one I ate at this weekend is the one in the lot of the Phillipsberg Mall. So far it hasnā€™t been linked to anything. Iā€™m hoping itā€™s in a different distribution network. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-outside-the-bun-taco-hell-poisons-customers-in-nj/382823/49 "2006-12-06T09:24:42Z")
> [@](#): > > Fast food chains make their money on the drinks. Theyā€™ll always ask you if you want a drink with your order. Iā€™ve never heard them ask if you want a 69 cent taco with your order. Yeah, but none of them have ever put me on the rack before they take my order. They ask me what I want, I say ā€˜"Yā€™ numberā€™ of Tacos" and they reply ā€œ(ā€(.69(constant\_value\_of dollar) x ā€˜Yā€™+&Tax\_Amount)=" &Total\_of\_Purchase)"; Wallet = Wallet - Total\_of\_Purchase; in other words: what? I was simply asking if Taco Bell tacos actually cost 99 cents other places cause they donā€™t here. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-outside-the-bun-taco-hell-poisons-customers-in-nj/382823/50 "2006-12-06T13:52:01Z")
Just a small update. [NY Times is reporting](http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/06/nyregion/06coli.html?_r=1&ref=nyregion&oref=slogin) that > [@](#): > > The investigation into an outbreak of food poisoning that has sickened 65 people in three states widened yesterday, as four additional cases of E. coli infection were reported in Pennsylvania as well as two more in New Jersey. > ā€¦ > ā€œYou could not have improper handling occur at so many restaurants,ā€ Dr. Dillon said. > > Taco Bell confirmed yesterday that all of the beef, lettuce and other ingredients prepared at the 1,100 Taco Bells in the Northeast came from the distribution center in South Jersey, which is operated by McLane Food Service of Carrollton, Tex. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-outside-the-bun-taco-hell-poisons-customers-in-nj/382823/51 "2006-12-06T14:39:17Z")
OK, I was hasty! šŸ˜ƒ But I still contend: if you are selling low-priced, low-end food like Taco hell, isnā€™t it almost impossible to make the food safe and wholsome? I mean, 99 cent tacos sound nice, but what kind of quality/safety does that price buy you? Iā€™m wondering if fast food out to be gamma ray irradiated-at least the food would be safe then\> Oh, and considering that a visit to the hospital emergency room can cost \> $10,000, taco hell food is pretty expensive :mad: ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-outside-the-bun-taco-hell-poisons-customers-in-nj/382823/52 "2006-12-06T17:16:15Z")
[QUOTE=ralph124c] OK, I was hasty! šŸ˜ƒ But I still contend: if you are selling low-priced, low-end food like Taco hell, isnā€™t it almost impossible to make the food safe and wholsome? I mean, 99 cent tacos sound nice, but what kind of quality/safety does that price buy you? Iā€™m wondering if fast food out to be gamma ray irradiated-at least the food would be safe then\> Oh, and considering that a visit to the hospital emergency room can cost \> $10,000, taco hell food is pretty expensive :mad: [/QUOTE] If every time I ate at Taco Bell I had to go to the emergency room your question might have some meaning. However, it doesnā€™t. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-outside-the-bun-taco-hell-poisons-customers-in-nj/382823/53 "2006-12-06T18:08:20Z")
[QUOTE=ralph124c] OK, I was hasty! šŸ˜ƒ But I still contend: if you are selling low-priced, low-end food like Taco hell, isnā€™t it almost impossible to make the food safe and wholsome? I mean, 99 cent tacos sound nice, but what kind of quality/safety does that price buy you? [/QUOTE] Every fast food chain has a $.99 menu. Everyone seems to manage it without too much trouble. I think you overestimate the cost of the food that goes into the meal. Thereā€™s no reason food at that price canā€™t be safe and wholesome, since the price of the food items really doesnā€™t enter into it. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-outside-the-bun-taco-hell-poisons-customers-in-nj/382823/54 "2006-12-06T18:16:48Z")
Even .99 items are governed by health and safety codes. There are certain minimum standards which food preparation must adhere to; these apply equally to .99 menu items as they do to a $100-per-plate dinner at a five-star restaurant. In fact, you may be surprised that the kitchen in a typical five-star bistro is not necessarily cleaner or more sanitary than your average fast-food joint. ---
**Author:** ![Mayo\_Speaks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mayo\_Speaks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mayo_Speaks)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-outside-the-bun-taco-hell-poisons-customers-in-nj/382823/55 "2006-12-06T18:59:12Z")
[QUOTE=ralph124c] OK, I was hasty! šŸ˜ƒ But I still contend: if you are selling low-priced, low-end food like Taco hell, isnā€™t it almost impossible to make the food safe and wholsome? I mean, 99 cent tacos sound nice, but what kind of quality/safety does that price buy you? Iā€™m wondering if fast food out to be gamma ray irradiated-at least the food would be safe then\> Oh, and considering that a visit to the hospital emergency room can cost \> $10,000, taco hell food is pretty expensive :mad: [/QUOTE] Wendyā€™s has a 99 cent menu. As Wendyā€™s is one of the only places I can spend the money on my meal plan, (Iā€™m a college student.) I have eaten from it approximately 5 times a week for the last year and a half. I have not once gotten sick from it. I havenā€™t been to the ER in about 15 years. I know that this is only anecdotal evidence, but my anecdotal evidence is worth more than your complete lack of evidence. The fact that an ER visit can cost $10,000 isnā€™t as relevant when one considers the fact that it will only happen maybe 1/10,000th of the time one eats at Taco Bell. (I made this number up, but if anything, Iā€™d imagine itā€™s too high.) Hereā€™s an equation: (large cost)\*(tiny probability) = Acceptable risk to most people. If you donā€™t understand the above equation, **ralph124c** , go ask a math geek whether or not you should play the lottery. And, this being the Pit and all: PROOFREAD YOUR GODDAMNED POSTS! ā€œWholsomeā€ is not a word. You canā€™t ā€œcontendā€ a question. You canā€™t use ā€œoutā€ when you mean ā€œoughtā€. ā€œ\>ā€ is not an acceptable substitute for ā€œ?ā€. AND FOR OGā€™S SAKE, DONā€™T TYPE ā€œ9ā€ WHEN YOU MEAN TO TYPE ā€œ(ā€. For a long time, the only thing I knew about you was that you were too stupid to press the shift and 9 keys simultaneously. I assume you know these things, and the rest of us would appreciate it if you would write your posts in a way that doesnā€™t make it seem like youā€™re a complete moron. I can assure you, the _contents_ of your posts are enough to convince us of that fact. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-outside-the-bun-taco-hell-poisons-customers-in-nj/382823/56 "2006-12-06T19:11:49Z")
Wow, **Mayo Speaks!** I applaud you. That was a great little two part rant. Iā€™ll will give it a 10 out of 10. I hope I never piss you off. Jim ---
**Author:** ![lowbrass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dc4da7/32.png) [@lowbrass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lowbrass)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-outside-the-bun-taco-hell-poisons-customers-in-nj/382823/57 "2006-12-06T21:07:50Z")
[QUOTE=wolfman] Yeah, but none of them have ever put me on the rack before they take my order. They ask me what I want, I say ā€˜"Yā€™ numberā€™ of Tacos" and they reply ā€œ(ā€(.69(constant\_value\_of dollar) x ā€˜Yā€™+&Tax\_Amount)=" &Total\_of\_Purchase)"; Wallet = Wallet - Total\_of\_Purchase; in other words: what? I was simply asking if Taco Bell tacos actually cost 99 cents other places cause they donā€™t here. [/QUOTE] Wow, whereā€™d you get the random word generator? šŸ˜• ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-outside-the-bun-taco-hell-poisons-customers-in-nj/382823/58 "2006-12-06T21:10:47Z")
First we had spinich, then lettuce an now [green onions](http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/06/nyregion/07colicnd.html?hp&ex=1165467600&en=79f95e030b4e3441&ei=5094&partner=homepage) as a possible e coli source. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-outside-the-bun-taco-hell-poisons-customers-in-nj/382823/59 "2006-12-06T21:13:19Z")
[QUOTE=lieu] First we had spinich, then lettuce an now [green onions](http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/06/nyregion/07colicnd.html?hp&ex=1165467600&en=79f95e030b4e3441&ei=5094&partner=homepage) as a possible e coli source. [/QUOTE] Donā€™t forget, white mice cause cancer. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-outside-the-bun-taco-hell-poisons-customers-in-nj/382823/60 "2006-12-06T21:31:22Z")
Then quit smoking them. Iā€™m not sure what your point is. NYT reports progress on efforts to trace the source of the outbreak. That news is plausable, has precedence and appears to attempt to avoid earlier, possibly erronous finger pointing by identifying a positively tainted batch. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-outside-the-bun-taco-hell-poisons-customers-in-nj/382823.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-outside-the-bun-taco-hell-poisons-customers-in-nj/382823.md?page=4)