A picture of an unnamed Taco Bell employee licking taco shells was uploaded to the Facebook wall page of the fast food chain and since then, the viral photo is now circulating the web.

The original photo was posted by a Facebook user named JJ O'Brien Nolan on Taco Bell's Facebook wall with a caption, "this sure says a lot about your employees, food treatment, and what they post on the internet."

It is not known as well when the photo was taken or what Taco Bell store location is it from. But from what can be identified from the Facebook picture, the ma is wearing a t-shirt carrying a Taco Bell logo on the sleeve and it seems that it was taken from a utility area of a certain Taco Bell store because of a distinct ad located on the background for the fast food chain's signature menu, Doritos Locos Taco.

The Facebook user who posted the image links his profile to Ridgecrest, California. Furthermore, Mr. Nolan also tagged a fellow Facebook user named Nicholas Kauffman in the post, and according to his profile, Ridgecrest is his hometown.

Taco Bell, on the other hand, quickly react to the viral photo of one of their employees licking their taco shells. "We're currently dealing with it," Cathy Marx, the manager of the Taco Bell in Ridgecrest stated in a short interview with the CNBC.

Furthermore, a spokesman for the company said in a statement emailed to the CNBC, "Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and team members, and we have strict food handling procedures and zero tolerance for any violations. When we learned of the situation we immediately contacted this restaurant's leadership and although we believe it is a prank and the food was not served to customers, we are conducting a full scale investigation and will be taking swift action against those involved."

Aside from causing online stir on social media networks, this photo may create a negative effect as well on the current Taco Bell's impressive 'A' rating from the County of Kern Public Health Services.