by News Desk | Jun 20, 2011
A Central Texas television news station had to file a Freedom of Information Act request to learn the source of an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 in April that included five confirmed infections and six suspected cases.
KXXX, News Channel 25, reported earlier this month that the Bell County Public District initially declined to identify the restaurant implicated in the outbreak, citing Texas laws intended to protect businesses and individuals under investigation.
But after viewers complained about the confidential investigation and insisted the public had a right to know the origin of the outbreak, the TV station made a formal public disclosure request and the authorities released a five-page report.
According to the report, the most likely source of the outbreak was a batch of guacamole made on April 13 and used a sandwich spread at Jason's Deli in Killeen.