McDonald’s communicated on Wednesday that customers can feel secure dining at its establishments, even amid a concerning E. coli outbreak associated with its Quarter Pounders.

Joe Erlinger, the president of McDonald’s USA, addressed the situation in an interview on the “Today” show, stating that the company has opted to remove the Quarter Pounder from menus in 10 states where a significant number of illnesses were reported, as well as in several additional locations.

“We’re taking necessary steps to safeguard the American public and promote public health,” Erlinger emphasized. “We believe that through these actions, we will rebuild consumer trust and encourage patrons to return to McDonald’s.”

The outbreak was reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Tuesday, indicating that there were 49 confirmed cases between September 27 and October 11 across states including Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oregon, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Among those affected, one fatality occurred in Colorado, and ten individuals required hospitalization, all of whom had consumed Quarter Pounders.

According to an initial investigation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), slivered onions used in the Quarter Pounders are suspected to be the probable source of the contamination. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is probing the hamburger meat involved.

Erlinger acknowledged that it’s conceivable that the contaminated product may have already circulated through McDonald’s supply chain. Nevertheless, he assured that the company would collaborate closely with authorities and assist in the ongoing investigation. Erlinger refrained from disclosing the identity of the supplier or whether it provides products to other restaurant brands or grocery chains.

In early trading on Wednesday, McDonald’s shares experienced a decline of 4.5%.