Jack in the Box E. coli outbreak (1993)
Undercooked hamburgers at Jack in the Box restaurants in the Pacific Northwest sickened more than 700 people and killed four children. The E. coli O157:H7 outbreak became one of the most famous food safety failures in U.S. history.
The chain recalled its patties and overhauled cooking procedures. The outbreak pushed the USDA to adopt a new meat inspection system.
It reshaped how restaurants and regulators treat food safety, making inspections a standard part of the permitting process.
The pre-permit inspection Julieta Taberna faces is part of the system built after such failures — a check that food service meets safety rules before the city grants a permit.
