The E. coli outbreak tied to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders has now sickened at least 75 people across 13 states, with 22 hospitalizations and two cases of kidney complications, according to the CDC. One person in Colorado has died.
Source Traced to Onion Supplier
Though no definitive source has been identified, FDA officials suspect uncooked slivered onions on the burgers may be the culprit. McDonald’s confirmed that Taylor Farms, based in California, supplied onions from its Colorado Springs facility to affected locations. McDonald’s has since stopped sourcing onions from this facility indefinitely, and Taylor Farms preemptively recalled onions from the facility.
McDonald’s Pulls Quarter Pounders from Menus in Affected Areas
McDonald’s has pulled the Quarter Pounder from select locations, primarily in the Midwest and Mountain states. The CDC notes some cases are linked to travel, as several sickened individuals ate at McDonald’s locations while traveling across states.
Fast-Food Chains Take Precautions
Other fast-food giants, including Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC, and Burger King, have also pulled Taylor Farms onions from select menus as a precautionary measure.
First Lawsuit in E. coli Outbreak
A McDonald’s customer has filed a lawsuit against the fast-food chain over an E. coli outbreak tied to its Quarter Pounder, which has reportedly killed one person and sickened dozens nationwide.
Eric Stelly, who filed the lawsuit in Illinois’ Cook County Circuit Court, claims he experienced nausea, cramps, and bloody stools after eating at a McDonald’s in Greeley, Colorado, three weeks ago. His attorney, Ron Simon, states that these symptoms are typical of E. coli poisoning. The 10-page lawsuit, obtained by USA TODAY, accuses McDonald’s of negligence and product liability.
Illnesses Reported Over Two-Week Period
Illnesses in the outbreak were reported from September 27 to October 11, with symptoms occurring shortly after eating contaminated food. This outbreak highlights the serious impact of E. coli, which causes around 74,000 infections and 61 deaths annually in the U.S.
