N.J. Sees 'Significant' E. coli Outbreak

N.J. Sees 'Significant' E. coli Outbreak

NEWARK, N.J. -- At least 19 people in New Jersey have reportedly become sick due to an outbreak of E. coli bacteria over the past two weeks.

Reports said seven are in hospitals, including two with potential kidney problems.

A health official told The Star-Ledger newspaper in Newark that it's a "significant outbreak."

The newspaper said investigators are trying to figure out how and where the victims became infected.

They range in age from 1 year old to 23.

Most of the people had eaten at a Taco Bell restaurant in South Plainfield that was voluntarily closed on Thursday because of the investigation. But the health official said inspectors didn't find any significant health code violations there last week.

Tests are being performed on the restaurant's 21 employees to see if any of them are infected.

Taco Bell said the restaurant has been given a clean bill of health.

The company said it's taken "every precaution" to safeguard the health of its customers and employees.

__________________

FoxNews reports that this is the same strain that caused so many problems with spinach just recently.