An E. coli outbreak that had been traced to a Taco John’s restaurant in Cedar Falls, Iowa, has also been potentially linked to an outbreak in Albert Lea, Minnesota.

Minnesota officials announced that they were investigating an apparent outbreak of E. coli infections tied to a Taco John’s restaurant in Albert Lea, which is just north of Iowa.

18 people in Black Hawk County have been hospitalized this month after eating at a local Taco John’s restaurant.

Approximately 100 Taco John’s franchises in the Midwest will be using a new produce vendor starting as soon as today as an extreme precautionary response to reports of potential E. coli contamination at three of the franchise locations, one in Iowa and two in Minnesota, that used a common vendor. The remainder of the Taco John’s system utilizes other produce vendors.