Federal health officials said Friday that at least 75 people in 13 states have been sickened by the recent and deadly fallout E. coli outbreak paired with McDonald’s Quarter Pounder burgers.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed, as before, one fatality linked to the outbreak previously reported. At least 22 people have been hospitalized and two people developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). serious health problem that can cause kidney failure. The person who died, an elderly person from Coloradois not among the people who developed HUS, the health agency said.
Federal health officials warned the public about the outbreak on Tuesday, and McDonald’s removed the product from about a fifth of its 13,000 U.S. locations, including its restaurants in Colorado, Kansas, Utah, Wyoming and parts of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana and Nebraska. , Nevada, New Mexico and Oklahoma.
According to health officials, the illnesses started on September 27, with the last reported case on October 10. States with cases include:
- Colorado
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Michigan
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Mexico
- Oregon
- Utah
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
McDonald’s sold about 1 million Quarter Pounders at the time the illnesses occurred, a restaurant spokesperson said, adding that the fast-food chain believes more people would have gotten sick if the contamination originated from the patties themselves. the burgers could be the culprit.
McDonald’s burgers are cooked at 175 degrees, above the 160 degrees needed to kill E. coli bacteria, while the sliced onions are raw, the spokesperson explained.
“If that is the source, it will be the first time that onions are carriers of this E. coli strain,” the spokesperson said.
The supplier of the onions for the affected McDonald’s locations is California-based produce giant Taylor Farms, which has initiated a recall for yellow onions produced at the Colorado plant.
In a statement Friday, McDonald’s reiterated that it has “removed all chopped onions from this plant,” adding that it will no longer source onions from the plant.
“Due to widespread concern and our continued commitment to food safety, we have made the decision to indefinitely cease sourcing onions from the Taylor Farms facility in Colorado Springs,” McDonald’s said. “As a reminder, all other menu items, including other beef items (including the Cheeseburger, Hamburger, Big Mac, McDouble and the Double Cheeseburger) remain unaffected and available,” it added.
Of the people who told the CDC they got sick after eating at McDonald’s, almost all said they ate a beef hamburger, with most specifying it was a Quarter Pounder. Some of those affected reported traveling to other states before becoming ill, with at least three people eating at McDonald’s during their trip, the federal agency noted.
Researchers continue to try to confirm whether chopped onions or beef patties in the burgers are the source of the E. coli outbreak. Preliminary findings from the Food and Drug Administration indicate that chopped onions are a likely source. The FDA is also investigating whether the onions were served or sold at other companies.
“As a family-owned business, we are proud to provide people with safe, healthy, fresh food every day. It saddens us to see the illnesses and affected individuals and families brought on by the current outbreak of E. coli O157:H7” , a Taylor Farms spokeswoman said. told CBS News in an email, referring to the specific tension behind the current wave of illnesses.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the affected individuals and their families. Our priority remains the health and safety of our consumers. We have preemptively recalled yellow onions from our Taylor Farms facility in Colorado, which have been sent to select foodservice customers” , she added.
The company is working with CDC and FDA to determine the trajectory of the E. coli outbreak, the spokesperson said.
The risk of contamination prompted Burger King, KFC, Taco Bell and other major fast food chains to do this pull fresh onions from some of their own locations, although the restaurants stressed they had no symptoms of illness.
E. coli symptoms
It typically takes three to four weeks to determine whether a sick person is part of an outbreak. Those infected with the toxin-producing E. coli experience severe stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting, and most recover without treatment in five to seven days.
People are advised to call their healthcare provider if they have eaten a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder and are severe E. coli symptomsas follows:
- Diarrhea and fever higher than 102°F
- Diarrhea lasting more than 3 days that does not improve
- Bloody diarrhea
- So much vomiting that you can’t keep the fluids down
- Signs of dehydration, such as:
- Decreased urination
- Dry mouth and throat
- Dizzy feeling when standing up
The health concerns over one of McDonald’s most popular menu items come as fast-food chains try to appeal to consumers still struggling with high food prices. The company this summer launched a $5 value meal in an effort to attract lower-income customers.
The outbreak is not the first to be linked to the Golden Arches. There was an outbreak in 2018 intestinal disease linked to McDonald’s salads sickened more than 500 people in more than a dozen states.
Shares of McDonald’s fell 2.5% on Friday, or 1% for the year.
