A California produce company, Taylor Farms, has been identified as the source of onions tied to a deadly E. coli outbreak that has sickened at least 49 people across 10 states, including one death. The outbreak has primarily impacted McDonald’s, which sourced onions from Taylor Farms’ Salinas, California, location and has led the chain to pull Quarter Pounder burgers from menus in multiple states. McDonald’s declined to disclose which specific distribution facility was affected.
Fast-Food Giants Remove Onions Amid Safety Concerns
In a ripple effect, other fast-food giants, including Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC, and Burger King, have removed fresh onions from some menus as a precaution. Yum Brands, the parent company of Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and KFC, announced the move “out of an abundance of caution” while awaiting further guidance from health officials and suppliers. Louisville-based Yum Brands didn’t confirm whether it shared suppliers with McDonald’s.
Burger King, owned by Restaurant Brands International, revealed that about 5% of its restaurants used onions from Taylor Farms’ Colorado facility, which recently issued a recall for peeled and diced yellow onions due to potential E. coli contamination. Burger King restaurants have since disposed of those onions and switched to other suppliers.
Taylor Farms Faces Scrutiny Amid Growing Safety Concerns
Taylor Farms, a major player in the produce industry, has not responded to multiple requests for comment. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not confirmed an investigation into Taylor Farms but said it’s “looking at all sources” of the outbreak. This isn’t the first safety issue for the company: in 2015, Taylor Farms recalled a celery and onion mix linked to a Costco chicken salad outbreak that sickened 19 people with E. coli.
Chipotle and Others Not Affected by Taylor Farms’ Recall
Chipotle stated it does not source any ingredients from Taylor Farms’ Colorado facility and has not been impacted by the recall. In contrast, other major restaurants are taking steps to ensure the safety of their produce, with McDonald’s alone reporting at least 10 hospitalizations tied to the outbreak, including a child who suffered severe kidney complications.
E. Coli Outbreak Prompts Lawsuit Against McDonald’s
A man from Greeley, Colorado, is suing McDonald’s after he was infected with E. coli following a meal at a local outlet. In his lawsuit, Eric Stelly claims he fell ill two days after dining at McDonald’s on Oct. 4 and later tested positive as part of the outbreak.
The CDC has confirmed that the infection involves E. coli O157, a particularly dangerous strain that annually causes around 74,000 infections, over 2,000 hospitalizations, and approximately 61 deaths in the U.S. Symptoms can rapidly develop within a day or two of consuming contaminated food and include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration. Those most at risk are young children, the elderly, pregnant individuals, and those with weakened immune systems.
