New details have emerged on an E. coli outbreak traced to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders. Earlier this week, multiple outlets reported that the sliced onions on the burgers were the likely culprit of the outbreak. McDonald’s has now confirmed this to be the case and also named Taylor Farms as the onion supplier, according to Reuters.
On Thursday, the produce company voluntarily recalled several batches of raw onions produced at its facility in Colorado. But the recall will impact more than just McDonald’s. Several notable fast food chains, including Burger King, KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell (the latter three are operated by YUM Brands), have also elected to temporarily remove onions from their products, as some of their locations are supplied by Taylor Farms.
“Yellow onions were sold to additional food service customers. Customers who received recalled onions have been directly notified of the recall,” an FDA spokesperson told Reuters. The FDA added they are investigating the cause of the outbreak within Taylor Farms, telling NBC News, “We’re looking at all possible sources.”
As of Wednesday, at least 49 people have been sickened with E. coli infections related to the contaminated onions.
Previously:
Fast-food giant McDonald’s is grappling with a string of E. coli cases linked to its beloved Quarter Pounder burgers. On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that they, along with other governing bodies that oversee food production and distribution, are investigating a slew of reports of McDonald’s customers coming down with E. coli—a bacteria that infects the gut, urinary tract and other parts of the body once contracted. According to that report, there have been 49 illnesses traceable to the fast food chain. One death is attributed to the outbreak.
The cases appear to be linked to the restaurant’s infamous Quarter Pounders—more specifically, the slivered onions featured on the burgers, according to an update from McDonald’s Wednesday, October 23.
“The initial findings from the investigation indicate that a subset of illnesses may be linked to slivered onions used in the Quarter Pounder and sourced by a single supplier that serves three distribution centers,” McDonald’s states in its update. “As a result, and in line with our safety protocols, all local restaurants have been instructed to remove this product from their supply and we have paused the distribution of all slivered onions in the impacted area.”
As a precaution, the Quarter Pounder will also be removed from the menu in the affected areas until all investigations are complete. The impacted area in question appears to be limited to 12 states: Colorado, Kansas, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico and Oklahoma.
E. coli, or Escherichia coli, is a bacteria that lives in the gut of healthy people. Under normal circumstances, it can help digest food and its presence is generally inconsequential. However, when ingested, certain strains of E. coli can cause infections that are accompanied by uncomfortable GI issues, including diarrhea, severe stomach pain and vomiting. If these issues persist, they can lead to dehydration. In the worst cases, E. coli can cause sepsis—a serious, potentially deadly infection of the blood.
The symptoms usually show up within a few days of eating, drinking, or coming into contact with something contaminated by the bacteria, though some strains can make you feel sick within hours. E. coli can be spread, but not through coughing or sneezing. It most often spreads to individuals caring for someone with the bacteria through contact with their poop or other objects the bacteria may be on, which is why sanitizing surfaces and washing hands are extremely important to limit its spread.
People who have contracted E. coli often do not need any treatment as long as they are staying hydrated. However, in more severe cases, doctors will sometimes prescribe antibiotics.
This story was originally published on October 23, 2024.
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