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Date: October 26, 2024
An alarming outbreak of E. coli linked to onions used in McDonald’s Quarter Pounders has now reached 75 reported cases across 13 states, according to an announcement from U.S. health officials on Friday. This marks a significant increase from 49 cases across 10 states reported earlier this week. The outbreak has now spread to include Michigan, New Mexico, and Washington.
As of now, 22 individuals have been hospitalized, with two cases developing into hemolytic uremic syndrome, a severe condition that can lead to kidney failure. Tragically, one death has been reported, involving an older adult in Colorado.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that all 42 individuals interviewed reported consuming food at McDonald’s before falling ill, with most specifically mentioning the Quarter Pounder hamburger. Currently, no other retail chains or food suppliers have been identified as sources of the outbreak.
In response to the outbreak, McDonald’s has already taken precautionary measures, halting the use of the suspect onions and Quarter Pounder beef patties in several states while investigations continue.
Taylor Farms, the Colorado supplier of the implicated onions, has also issued a recall of their products. In a proactive move, other fast food chains, including Burger King, Taco Bell, KFC, and Pizza Hut, are removing onions from their menus as a precautionary measure. A Burger King spokesperson noted that while most of their onion supply does not overlap with McDonald’s, approximately 5% of their restaurants do receive onions from the affected Taylor Farms facility. These restaurants were instructed to dispose of the onions immediately and are in the process of restocking from alternate suppliers.
Yum! Brands, which manages Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and KFC, stated that they are closely monitoring the E. coli outbreak and have removed fresh onions from selected locations as a safety measure.
McDonald’s U.S. President Joe Erlinger reassured customers, saying, “We are very confident that you can go to McDonald’s and enjoy our classics. We took swift action yesterday to remove the Quarter Pounder from our menu.”
The FDA reported that McDonald’s has removed slivered onions and Quarter Pounder patties from locations in Colorado, Kansas, Utah, Wyoming, and portions of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. It is important to note that Quarter Pounders may not be available in other states as the situation evolves.
E. coli infections can cause severe gastrointestinal symptoms, including stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, and vomiting, typically appearing three to four days after exposure. While most individuals recover within a week without treatment, some may develop severe kidney complications requiring hospitalization.
Health officials urge anyone who experiences illness after consuming a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder to seek medical attention and inform their healthcare provider of their recent dietary intake.
As investigations continue, the CDC emphasizes that this is a fast-moving outbreak and will keep the public informed of any further developments.
