Public health officials in Minnesota are blaming a possible E. coli outbreak at several Applebee's Neighborhood Grill and Bar restaurants for sickening more than a dozen people in the state during the month of June.
A total of 13 people, seven of whom confirmed that they ate at one of more than a dozen Minnesota area Applebee's between June 24 and June 27, were hospitalized as part of the outbreak, though Mineesota Department of Health officials stopped short of blaming the E. coli incident specifcally on the restaurant chain as there were several unrelated cases.
All of the victims have since recovered and Applebee's has voluntarily removed the suspected item — its Oriental Chicken Salad — from the menu at its Minnesota locations.
Insurers know that outbreaks like this are a common risk factor for restaurants as they have occured with some regularity in recent years. In 2010, for example, a widespread E. coli outbreak led to the recall of some 124 tons of beef from restaurants including Applebee's and Olive Garden.
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