The outbreak began with reports of severe illness in children, primarily presenting with stomach cramps and bloody diarrhea. By mid-January 1993, hospitals in Western Washington were flooded with cases, predominantly affecting young children under the age of six. Tragically, three toddlers succumbed to kidney failure triggered by E. coli infection—a two-year-old girl from Snohomish County, a two-year-old boy from Tacoma, and a 16-month-old boy from Bellingham.
By the end of February, the outbreak had spread beyond Washington to four western states, affecting over 500 individuals. Children were particularly vulnerable; 40% of those infected were under six years old, and two-thirds were under 15. Survivors faced long-term health consequences, with some developing kidney problems a decade or more later, while others required organ removal due to E. coli-related damage.
The source of this tragedy was traced back to undercooked hamburger patties served at Jack in the Box restaurants across multiple states, including Washington, California, Nevada, and Utah. The contaminated ground beef was supplied by Von's in California, implicating specific batches of meat in the outbreak.
Investigations revealed that Jack in the Box had received large tubes of ground beef from a November 1992 production run at Von's, linking the contamination to specific lots of meat distributed to multiple states. Shockingly, one child had died in San Diego in December after consuming contaminated hamburger from a local fast food establishment.
As the outbreak unfolded, over 450 cases were reported in Washington alone, with an additional 100 cases reported across other western states. Health officials identified multiple slaughter plants in the United States and Canada as likely sources of the contaminated meat, highlighting broader issues in food safety and supply chain management.
By March 1993, the outbreak subsided, but not before approximately 700 individuals had fallen ill, with 56 developing the severe hemolytic uremic syndrome—a life-threatening complication of E. coli infection. Investigation findings indicated that the outbreak was exacerbated by high demand for the "Monster Burger" promotion, which led to inadequate cooking of the patties, failing to eliminate the E. coli bacteria.
In response to this crisis, Jack in the Box assumed responsibility by covering medical costs for affected individuals. This tragic event underscored the critical importance of rigorous food safety measures and raised awareness about the dangers of undercooked ground beef, particularly for vulnerable populations like young children.
The Jack in the Box E. coli Outbreak: A Tragic Food Contamination Incident
