Health
Fast Food Burger Faces E. Coli Scrutiny as Outbreak Sparks Beef and Onion Concerns
Clear Facts
- McDonald’s is investigating an E. coli outbreak linked to its Quarter Pounder hamburgers, with beef not ruled out as a potential source.
- 49 people have fallen ill, with ten hospitalizations and one death reported, primarily in states where the Quarter Pounder has been consumed.
- The company has removed slivered onions and beef patties from inventory and halted Quarter Pounder sales in affected regions.
McDonald’s is in the midst of an investigation to determine the source of an E. coli outbreak associated with its Quarter Pounder burgers. The fast-food giant confirmed that beef has not been excluded as a potential culprit.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that they, along with other agencies like the FDA and USDA, are probing the outbreak after 49 individuals reported illness. Most of these individuals had consumed Quarter Pounders prior to becoming sick, with ten cases resulting in hospitalization and one tragic fatality.
Cesar Piña, McDonald’s North America chief supply chain officer, stated in an internal message that the company is “taking swift and decisive action” to tackle the outbreak. He noted, “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.”
In response, McDonald’s has removed fresh slivered onions and quarter pound beef patties from their inventory. They have also temporarily ceased selling the Quarter Pounder in areas where cases have been reported, including Colorado, Kansas, Utah, and Wyoming, along with parts of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.
Company representatives revealed that the CDC notified them of the outbreak last week. McDonald’s is collaborating with the involved agencies to ascertain whether beef or onions are responsible for the contamination.
Should beef be identified as the source, it would imply that several McDonald’s outlets failed to cook the patties to the required 175 degrees, as E. coli is eliminated at 160 degrees.
The focus is also on the fresh slivered onions, a raw ingredient from a single supplier. However, if the onions are found to be the cause, it would mark the first instance of this particular E. coli strain, O157:H7, being linked to onions.
The CDC advises anyone experiencing severe E. coli symptoms, such as high fever, diarrhea, vomiting, or dehydration after consuming a Quarter Pounder, to contact their healthcare provider.
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