Shutdown of Souplantation after E. coli linkage illustrates variability of closures

LAKE FOREST, CALIF. —A Souplantation restaurant linked to at least 12 cases of E. coli 0157:H7 infections was closed April 6 when new illnesses, of a customer and an employee, were confirmed after the branch of the 100-unit chain had remained open following initial rounds of sicknesses.

As Orange County health authorities worked to determine the source of the contamination and complete testing on all