On October 22, a significant E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders has raised serious health concerns. The Associated Press reports that federal health officials have confirmed cases of food poisoning affecting at least 49 individuals across 10 states, resulting in one death and ten hospitalizations.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the fatality involved an elderly resident of Colorado, while a child developed severe kidney complications from the infection and required hospitalization.
The outbreak has been traced back to cases reported between September 27 and October 11, with the highest number of infections occurring in Colorado, which has documented 26 cases, followed by Nebraska with 9. States such as Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming have also reported infections.
Interviews conducted by health officials with those infected revealed a common link: their symptoms began after dining at McDonald’s, with a significant number of individuals specifically mentioning the Quarter Pounders. In response to the outbreak, the CDC, along with the Department of Agriculture and the FDA, has launched an investigation into the source of the contamination.
As of now, no specific ingredient has been confirmed as the cause of the E. coli infections; however, investigators are focusing on onions and beef. Preliminary findings from the FDA suggest that sliced onions used in the Quarter Pounders may have been contaminated, leading to further scrutiny of the ground beef used in the burgers.
In a statement released on October 22, McDonald’s officials acknowledged the situation, indicating that some of the reported illness cases are linked to onions sourced from a single supplier. The company has stopped using sliced onions and has temporarily removed Quarter Pounders from the menu in several affected states, including Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.
McDonald’s emphasized its commitment to food safety, stating, “We take food safety very seriously.”
