McDonald’s E. coli-contaminated burgers spread to 13 states, 75 people suspected of being poisoned_2

An outbreak of E. coli contamination linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder has prompted concerns across at least 13 states, with health officials reporting 75 suspected cases of food poisoning. Among these, 22 individuals have been hospitalized, and one person has died, with two suffering from severe kidney disease.

On October 25, federal health officials noted a surge in E. coli infections, although the exact source remains unclear. Preliminary investigations have tentatively identified “undercooked onion slices” as a potential cause.

Colorado has reported the highest number of E. coli cases, with 26 infections. Following Colorado are Montana with 13 cases and Nebraska with 11. Utah and New Mexico each reported five cases, while Missouri and Wyoming had four. Michigan has seen two cases, and Iowa, Kansas, Oregon, Wisconsin, and Washington each reported one case.

Some affected individuals have indicated they traveled to other states before falling ill, with at least three patients noting that they consumed McDonald’s burgers while on the road. These out-of-state cases developed symptoms between September 27 and October 11. McDonald’s announced on the 25th that restaurants associated with these infections would discontinue the sale of the Quarter Pounder.

FDA officials revealed that the onion supplier, Taylor Farms, had only issued product recall notifications to its direct customers, failing to alert the general public. Typically, it is the responsibility of the company to release a recall news release, which the FDA then communicates to the public. Legally, suppliers are not obligated to inform the general public directly.

McDonald’s confirmed that the recalled onions from Taylor Farms were distributed through a certain distribution center to restaurants where customers reported illnesses, though the specific distribution center has not been identified. On the same day the outbreak was announced on October 22, McDonald’s ceased sales of the Quarter Pounder in several states primarily located in the Midwest and west of the Rocky Mountains.

In response, other fast-food chains, including Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC, and Burger King, have begun to eliminate raw onions from their menus at certain locations. Restaurant Brands International Inc., the parent company of Burger King, stated that approximately 5% of its restaurants utilize whole onions sourced from Taylor Farms’ Colorado facility; however, out of caution, all onions from that supplier are currently being discarded.