On January 19, 2012, the CDC announced that “Mexican-style fast food restaurant chain, Restaurant Chain A” was linked to a total of 68 consumers infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Enteritidis in 10 states. According to the CDC, the number of ill persons identified in each was as follows: Texas (43), Oklahoma (16), Kansas (2), Iowa (1), Michigan (1), Missouri (1), Nebraska (1), New Mexico (1), Ohio (1), and Tennessee (1). Today Oklahoma announced that the Mexican-style fast food restaurant chain, Restaurant Chain A is in fact, Taco Bell.

In response Taco Bell said in a statement that investigators found that some of the people who became ill ate at Taco Bell, while others did not. “They believe that the problem likely occurred at the supplier level before it was delivered to any restaurant or food outlet. We take food quality and safety very seriously,” Taco Bell said.

You wonder how much Taco Bell pays for that kind of PR advice. Instead they should pay me for this that I gave freely to MSNBC:

“I think it just proves the point that it is always better to be transparent,” said Bill Marler, a Seattle food safety lawyer who used his blog to lobby vigorously for the release of the name. “Taco Bell could have looked like a hero by coming out and saying that it was a supplier problem and they are going to work hard to make sure it never happens again.”