AUSTRALIAN beef is being privately blamed for a mass E. coli outbreak in famed US fast-food chain Chipotle, despite health authorities finding no evidence of contamination in the imported meat. 
The claims - reportedly made by the burrito chain behind closed doors - are potentially damaging for the Australian beef export business.
Several US media outlets are citing unnamed sources who claim Chipotle concluded privately that Australian beef was to blame for the mass E. coli outbreak that infected 60 people across 11 states, and cut sales for the fast-food giant by 30 per cent in   December. "Chipotle concluded the E. coli was most likely from contaminated Australian beef," the Wall Street Journal wrote.
Australia's Department of Agriculture yesterday said there was "no evidence linking Australian beef exports with recent cases of food-borne illness associated with the Chipotle restaurants in the US".US health agency Food Safety Inspection Services also dismissed the Australia link, saying of the 60 patients, just eight ate steak.