Food scare grips nation: E. coli cases climb to 104 in McDonald’s outbreak tied to slivered onions

104 sickened, 34 hospitalized in nationwide E. coli outbreak linked to Quarter Pounders

Details of the outbreak

An E. coli outbreak has sickened at least 104 people, with 34 requiring hospitalization, following the consumption of McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers containing slivered onions. Federal health officials confirmed the outbreak on Wednesday, stating that one person in Colorado has died, and four others developed kidney complications. Cases have been reported in 14 states, with Colorado, Montana, and Nebraska among the hardest-hit regions.

McDonald’s response and investigation

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identified slivered onions as the likely source of the contamination, which occurred between September 12 and October 21. In response, McDonald’s removed Quarter Pounders from menus in affected states, sourcing alternative onions for the 900 restaurants impacted by the recall. Despite concerns, the FDA now states there is no ongoing food safety risk linked to the outbreak at McDonald’s.

Health impact and symptoms

E. coli infection typically presents symptoms within one to two days, including fever, diarrhea (sometimes bloody), vomiting, and dehydration. It can lead to severe kidney damage, particularly in young children under five. The CDC reports that the bacteria responsible for this outbreak causes about 74,000 infections annually in the U.S., resulting in over 2,000 hospitalizations and 61 deaths.