In an update on the food poisoning outbreak in the western New York counties of Erie and Niagara shows the number of cases are at least 160. The outbreak of unknown etiology has been linked to refried beans served at Mighty Taco restaurants.

The Erie County Health Department reports 142 cases linked to nine Mighty Taco restaurants. Health officials do say that no new cases have been reported after beans were discarded.

Lab results on the cause of the outbreak are expected by weeks end.

In Niagara County, health officials identified 18 cases as of Oct. 7.

Niagara County health officials said late last week that recent inspections of all 3 Mighty Taco sites in Niagara County demonstrated that safe food handling preparation processes and procedures were met. Mighty Taco removed all suspect food items from their restaurants. Samples collected by our sanitarians are being tested and analyzed at the New York State Public Health Laboratory at Wadsworth. It will take several weeks of processing and analysis before results are available to us.

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