One person has died, and 10 others were hospitalised across the United States following an E. coli outbreak believed to be linked to McDonald’s burgers, specifically, the Quarter Pounder.
As of the time of writing, there are 49 recorded cases spanning 10 states, with Colorado experiencing the highest number at 26.
Other affected states include Oregon, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Missouri.
Many of the afflicted people had reportedly consumed McDonald’s Quarter Pounders before falling ill.
This same E. coli strain, O157:H7, was responsible for the 1993 Jack in the Box outbreak, which killed four children who ate undercooked burgers.
According to CNN, the individual who died was an older person, while one of those hospitalised was a child who developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a severe complication that can arise from an E. coli infection.
McDonald’s is actively assisting in the investigation to identify which Quarter Pounder ingredient is causing illness.
Initial investigations by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suggest that slivered onions used in the burgers may be the source of contamination.
Traceback and distribution data point to these onions as a potential cause of the outbreak.
Image courtesy of Pexels for illustrative purposes only.
The FDA is now racing to confirm if these onions were served at other food establishments beyond McDonald’s.
In response, McDonald’s has removed Quarter Pounders from the menu in certain states and stopped using slivered onions altogether.
Joe Erlinger, President of McDonald’s USA, said: “It’s important to note that the majority of states and the majority of menu items are not affected.”
He added that the chain is working quickly to restore its full menu in the affected areas.
McDonald’s has also said in a statement that the initial investigation findings linked the onions to “a single supplier that serves three distribution centres”.
Notably, the news caused McDonald’s stock price to fall, with shares dropping by about 6%.
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Featured image adapted from CNN, aradaphotography on Canva
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