McDonald’s Quarter Pounder burgers have been linked to an E. coli outbreak that has sickened nearly 50 people in 10 states and killed one person, federal health officials said Tuesday.
Most of the sick people reported eating McDonald’s Quarter Pounders, and researchers are trying to confirm which food ingredient was contaminated, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A total of 49 cases have been reported so far. The most illnesses occurred in Colorado and Nebraska, with 26 sickened in the former and nine affected in the latter, the CDC said. Of the 26 people who became ill in Colorado, one older adult died, the CDC said. Health officials in Utah and Wyoming each reported four illnesses. Other states reporting illnesses include Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Oregon and Wisconsin.
At least ten people have been hospitalized. The illnesses started in late September and the most recent incident occurred on October 11.
Another person developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious condition that can cause kidney failure, according to the CDC. The person who died is not the same person as HUS.
“Initial findings from the study indicate that some of the illnesses may be associated with chopped onions used in the Quarter Pounder that come from a single supplier serving three distribution centers,” said Cesar Piña, Chief Supply Chain Officer for Company’s North America. a statement.
McDonald’s removes Quarter Pounder
The company said it is removing the Quarter Pounder from restaurants in the affected area, including Colorado, Kansas, Utah and Wyoming, as well as parts of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico and Oklahoma.
McDonald’s is working with federal and state public health officials and has stopped using fresh sliced onions and quarter-pound beef patties in several states, where the product will be temporarily unavailable, the CDC said.
Quarter Pounder beef patties are only used on Quarter Pounders, and fresh chopped onions are primarily used on Quarter Pounder burgers and not on other menu items, according to the CDC.
It usually takes three to four weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak. Most people infected with the toxin-producing E. coli experience severe stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting. Most recover without treatment after five to seven days.
People are advised to call their healthcare provider if they have eaten a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder and have severe E. coli symptoms, as 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
Shares of McDonald’s fell sharply in after-hours trading, most recently down 7%.
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.
