An outbreak in October 2024 of serious E. coli infections from McDonald’s Quarter Pounders handed quite a health blow to citizens all over America. After almost 50 cases, with one even confirmed dead, the CDC wasted no time in launching an investigation into where such contamination came from. The two major suspects, so far, are fresh slivered onions and quarter-pound beef patties which have lead to the recall of the product in some states as well stated here, McDonald’s Quarter Pounders linked to deadly E. coli outbreak – These are the affected states where the burgers are being recalled
Understanding E. coli and its dangers
Escherichia coli, commonly known as E. coli, refers to a group of bacteria living inside the intestines of humans and animals. While most strains are harmless, there exist specific kinds of E. coli that contain strong poisons-the very infamous E. coli O157:H7 has been linked to a host of serious health conditions such as bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting. In rare instances, they can escalate into more serious complications such as Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, which results in kidney failure, especially in vulnerable populations including the very young and elderly.
CDC did establish that all those who became sick in this outbreak had, before the development of their illness, eaten a hamburger sold by McDonald’s. Most specifically mentioned Quarter Pounders. The suspicious trend then made health officials narrow their search to finding which ingredient was contaminated with the bacteria.
The contribution of fresh slivered onions
Preliminary findings have implicated freshly slivered onions as one of the prime sources of contamination. These onions are used raw on the Quarter Pounders and come from a single supplier who cuts and packages them for use at many McDonald’s outlets. The processing involves cleaning and slicing, where the onions are packaged after processing, thus there is a potential risk of contamination from handlers.
Investigation into the onions by the CDC follows reports that seemingly implicate them in a number of sicknesses in a number of states, especially with the high number of reported cases in Colorado and Nebraska. The agency also took prudent steps by calling on McDonald’s to stop using these onions from its menu as the investigation continues.
Investigating the beef patties
While fresh slivered onions are under intense scrutiny, quarter-pound beef patties also have been investigated as potential sources of contamination. Health experts consider that it is improbable that beef is the cause of this outbreak due to the rigid federal requirements for meat testing and cooking standards by McDonald’s that are assumed to kill the bacteria.
Since there are several suppliers of beef patties to McDonald’s, and since the cooking temperature required for the patties is very high, any ordinary bacteria, let alone that of E. coli, would be killed. This factor alone makes it highly improbable that the villain could be the beef itself, though, until final results are obtained, even this remains part of the investigation.
Impact on public health and safety measures
When news of the outbreak led to headlines, McDonald’s temporarily pulled Quarter Pounders from sales in affected states, such as Colorado, Kansas, Utah, Wyoming, and parts of many others. It was important that their customers be made aware of their safety while health officials investigated the matter.
For that reason, health authorities have called for anyone who has eaten a Quarter Pounder in the recent past and is now feeling symptoms such as severe stomach cramps or bloody diarrhea to report to the nearest medical facility immediately. The CDC underscored that symptoms usually manifest within three to four days after exposure to contaminated food.
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