The E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder has ruled out beef patties as the source of the contamination, the company announced. According to the US Food and Drug Administration, slivered onions from a single supplier are the likely source of contamination. By Friday, the outbreak had expanded to at least 75 people made ill in 13 states, with 22 people admitted to hospital and two developing a dangerous kidney disease complication. One person has died in Colorado. McDonald’s pulled the Quarter Pounder from menus in several states and removed slivered onions sourced from the Colorado Springs facility from its supply chain.
The company has identified Taylor Farms, a California-based produce company, as the supplier of the fresh onions used in the affected restaurants. The onions came from a facility in Colorado Springs, Colorado, which distributed them to about 900 of McDonald’s restaurants, including those in transport hubs like airports. McDonald’s has stopped sourcing onions from the Colorado Springs facility “indefinitely” and will resume sales of Quarter Pounders without slivered onions.
E. coli Outbreak Linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder (Image via Getty)
Taylor Farms has pre-emptively recalled yellow onions sent to customers from its Colorado facility and is continuing to work with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the FDA as they investigate. While it is unclear if the recalled onions were the source of the outbreak, several other fast-food restaurants, including Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC, and Burger King, have pulled onions from some menus in certain areas.
The outbreak involves infections with E. coli 0157:H7, a type of bacteria that produces a dangerous toxin. Symptoms of E. coli poisoning can occur quickly, within a day or two of eating contaminated food, and typically include fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, and signs of dehydration. The infection is especially dangerous for children younger than five, the elderly, the pregnant, and people with weakened immune systems.
