HispanicBusiness

Reuters is reporting that Irvine-based Taco Bell has been identified as a Mexican fast-food chain behind a salmonella outbreak that sickened 68 people in 10 states late last year.

I asked Taco Bell to respond to the story, which was first published in the watchdog website Food Safety News. Here's what the company said about the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention investigation:

The 10 states named by the CDC are Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Ohio and Tennessee.

This is the third time in less than six years that the Mexican fast-food chain has been tied to a major national food scare. The most damaging to its reputation came in late 2006, when 71 people were sickened after eating at Taco Bell restaurants in the East Coast.

The latest food scare to hit the 5,600-unit chain comes as Taco Bell enters 2012 with big plans to change its menu. This month, the chain introduced its new breakfast program, First Meal, in 10 states including California.

The chain is also testing a slightly upscale fast-food menu dubbed Cantina Bell in two markets. Some of the foods, which contain cilantro rice, corn salsa and black beans, can be found in a few Orange County, Calif., restaurants.