1993 Jack in the Box E. coli outbreak

1993 Jack in the Box E. coli Outbreak‏‎

The 1993 Jack in the Box E. coli outbreak‏‎ was a significant foodborne illness event that occurred in the United States. It was caused by the bacterium Escherichia coli O157:H7, commonly known as E. coli, which was found in undercooked beef patties served at Jack in the Box fast food restaurants.

Background

Jack in the Box is an American fast-food restaurant chain founded in 1951. By 1993, the chain had over 1,000 locations across the United States. The outbreak was traced back to undercooked beef patties served at 73 of these locations in the states of Washington, Idaho, California, and Nevada.

Outbreak

The outbreak began in late 1992 and continued into 1993. It was first identified in mid-January 1993 when an unusually high number of children were admitted to hospitals in Seattle, Washington with bloody diarrhea and Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), a serious condition that can lead to kidney failure.

Investigation and Response

The CDC and state health departments traced the outbreak to undercooked beef patties served at Jack in the Box restaurants. The source of the E. coli was determined to be contaminated beef from one of the chain's suppliers. In response to the outbreak, Jack in the Box implemented new food safety measures, including increased cooking times for its beef patties.

Impact

The outbreak resulted in 732 people becoming ill, four deaths, and 178 cases of HUS. It led to significant changes in food safety regulations in the United States, including stricter guidelines for cooking beef and improved surveillance for E. coli and other foodborne pathogens.

See Also

• Foodborne illness
• Escherichia coli O157:H7
• Hemolytic-uremic syndrome
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention