News

E. coli outbreak closes food truck and restaurant in Boston area

April 14, 2017

An outbreak of E. coli, a bacteria causing foodborne illness, has shuttered Chicken & Rice Guys locations across the Boston area, including the chain's food truck commonly parked in the Science Center Plaza, according to The Harvard Crimson.

By Thursday night, the outbreak—one of the larger E. coli outbreaks in Massachusetts—had affected 15 people, with 10 people already hospitalized. In a statement sent early Thursday afternoon to The Boston Globe, Steven Collicelli, a marketing manager for the chain, wrote that the cases have been linked to products from the food trucks and the Allston restaurant location between March 27 and April 6.

After health inspectors confirmed seven initial cases on Tuesday, Chicken & Rice Guys closed their stores and food trucks, including the truck often outside the Science Center. The Chicken & Rice Guys locations passed a "thorough review" from health officials, according to Collicelli, and the officials are now investigating the food suppliers and personnel.