The recent outbreak of E. coli associated with McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers has become a serious health hazard for over 100 people across the country. In mid-November 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported infections in 104 people and the hospitalization of 34, while one death was confirmed. This outbreak is basically due to the silvered onions supplied by Taylor Farms, a company based in California.
Timeline of the outbreak
People reported illnesses as early as that month, but it wasn’t until late September 2024 that the outbreak was identified. On October 22, the CDC officially announced the link to McDonald’s, after which both the fast-food chain and health authorities acted with immediate effect.
- September 2024: Initial cases of E. coli reported.
- October 10, 2024: The CDC confirms link between illnesses and McDonald’s Quarter Pounders.
- October 22, 2024: Taylor Farms recalls yellow onions suspected of contamination. As explained with this article, Not just McDonald’s – E. coli outbreak forces Burger King, KFC and Pizza Hut to recall onions from some stores – Check out affected…
CDC has updated this count to 104 cases as of November 13, 2024, while investigations to determine the source of this outbreak are ongoing.
Affected states
On the whole, there were a total of 14 states that were affected, though at different case numbers. The most affected include:
- Colorado
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Mexico
- Missouri
- Utah
- Wyoming
Smaller clusters are also being investigated in a number of other states in the Midwest and the Pacific Northwest. The CDC continues to note that the overall number of people infected is likely higher because many investigations continue and, further, symptom onset dates have not been confirmed yet.
Symptoms and health risks
An infection with E. coli can result in severe gastrointestinal symptoms. These usually manifest one to three days after eating foods that contain the bacteria. Symptoms may include:
- Severe abdominal cramps
- Bloody or watery diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Mild fever
Though most people recover without any treatment in five to seven days, there are people who develop critical complications like HUS that could result in kidney failure due to the toxin produced by this bacteria. Younger children and older adults are more susceptible to this illness.
Source of contamination
In these investigations, the CDC and FDA had traced the probable cause to silvered onions used at the Quarter Pounders which was supplied by Taylor farms as also detailed here, The ingredients suspected of carrying E. coli bacteria in McDonald’s Quarter Pounders. While one sample from the recalled onions tested positive for E. coli, it did not match the strain responsible for the outbreak, O157:H7. But health officials continue to say they can still be a probable cause since these onions were widely used at affected locations.
In response to the outbreak, McDonald’s temporarily stopped serving Quarter Pounders with slivered onions at its restaurants in several states and has resumed serving them with onions from a different supplier after verification there is no ongoing food safety risk.
McDonald’s response
McDonald’s has taken meaningful action to respond to the outbreak and protect customers:
- The company immediately stopped selling implicated menu items at restaurants in affected states.
- They initiated a change in their onion supplier for their Quarter Pounders.
- McDonald’s has always denied, ever since the crisis emerged, that food safety had been an issue and that it remained so.
- This proactive chain of action by the firm can be viewed, not only as an attempt to take care of the general health of the people but also of regaining customer confidence in their products.
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Read more: McDonald’s now says Quarter Pounder burgers are not linked to E. coli outbreak – Problem appears to be limited to a particular ingredient and…