More than 100 individuals have reported illness following an E.coli outbreak connected to slivered onions used in McDonald's Quarter Pounder burgers, as confirmed by U.S. health authorities. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported on Wednesday that 104 cases of illness and 34 hospitalizations have been associated with the outbreak, with one man succumbing to the illness in October.
The situation unfolded when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identified the onions as the "likely source" of the E.coli bacteria, leading Taylor Farms, the supplier, to issue a recall last month. In a development of reassurance, McDonald's has since sourced an alternative supplier and resumed selling Quarter Pounders with slivered onions at locations impacted by the outbreak.
CDC data indicates that the illness timeline stretches from mid-September to late October, impacting numerous states, including Colorado, Iowa, and Kansas, as well as areas such as Oklahoma and New Mexico. The FDA is actively gathering onion and environmental samples from McDonald's stores and associated distribution centres as part of their ongoing investigations, along with inspections at pertinent sites.
As a consequence of the outbreak, four individuals have reportedly developed haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a severe condition that can lead to kidney damage. The federal agency has provided updates confirming that investigations are underway and that they have yet to find a persistent food safety concern within McDonald's restaurants related to this incident, noting that it is "unlikely" that the recalled onions made their way to grocery stores or consumers directly.
In response to the E.coli outbreak, McDonald’s temporarily suspended the sale of Quarter Pounders at approximately 20% of its U.S. establishments. However, the fast-food chain has since reinstated sales following testing that indicated their beef patties were safe.
Chris Kempczinski, McDonald's CEO, issued an apology regarding the outbreak, expressing sincere sympathies to affected customers. He reassured the public of the chain’s commitment to food safety and indicated steps taken to rectify the situation.
Additionally, some consumers have initiated legal actions against McDonald's, including a proposed class-action lawsuit, underscoring concerns related to the health crisis. As of now, McDonald's has successfully transitioned to an alternate supplier for around 900 restaurants that had temporarily discontinued serving Quarter Pounders with slivered onions, reinforcing its focus on ensuring food safety remains paramount. The company continues to work closely with suppliers and the FDA to prevent similar incidents in the future.
