One person has died, and dozens have fallen ill due to E. coli infections linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers across ten states, with Colorado reporting the highest number of cases at 26, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control(CDC) reported on Tuesday.
This E. coli outbreak, linked to McDonald’s most popular menu items, has affected 49 individuals, with ten hospitalised. The strain involved, E. coli O157:H7, is known to cause severe illness and was responsible for a tragic outbreak in 1993 that resulted in the deaths of four children after consuming undercooked hamburgers at Jack in the Box restaurants.
In the wake of this news, shares of the world’s largest fast-food chain fell by approximately 6% in after-hours trading. A livestock trader noted that the outbreak could also impact U.S. cattle futures, as it may threaten demand for beef.
According to the CDC, everyone interviewed during the investigation into the outbreak reported eating at McDonald’s before falling ill, with most mentioning that they ate a Quarter-Pounder hamburger.
The CDC has not yet identified the particular ingredient associated with the illness, but they are concentrating on fresh, sliced onions and fresh beef patties. Colorado and Nebraska reported most of the illnesses.
“The initial findings from the investigation indicate that a subset of illnesses may be linked to slivered onions used in the Quarter Pounder and sourced by a single supplier that serves three distribution centres,” McDonald’s North America Chief Supply Chain Officer Cesar Piña said in a statement.
The specific ingredient linked to the illness has not been identified, but the CDC said investigators are focused on fresh, slivered onions and fresh beef patties. Most of the illnesses were reported in Colorado and Nebraska.
“The initial findings from the investigation indicate that a subset of illnesses may be linked to slivered onions used in the Quarter Pounder and sourced by a single supplier that serves three distribution centres, ” McDonald’s North America Chief Supply Chain Officer Cesar Piña said in a statement.
According to the information provided by the company to the CDC, McDonald’s has taken the initiative to remove the slivered onions and beef patties used for the Quarter Pounder hamburgers from stores in the impacted states as the investigation continues.
Bill Marler, a food safety attorney in the U.S. who represented a victim in the Jack in the Box outbreak, suggested that more cases of the illness may emerge.
“Onions have been linked to prior E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks”, he said.
Marler said beef contamination is less common due to food safety measures.
“You’d have to have multiple restaurants under-cooking the meat,” he said.
McDonald’s has announced that it will temporarily remove the Quarter Pounder from the menu at restaurants in the affected regions, such as Colorado, Kansas, Utah, and Wyoming. The company stated that it is collaborating with suppliers to restock the supply within the next week.
“Symptoms for E. coli include severe stomach cramps, diarrhoea and vomiting. Most people who suffer an infection will start feeling sick three to four days after eating or drinking something that contains the bacteria,” Colorado’s public health department said.
However, illnesses can start anywhere from one to 10 days after exposure, the department added.
The CDC reported that besides Colorado, small groups of individuals became sick after consuming a Quarter Pounder in Nebraska, Utah, and Wyoming. Kansas, Missouri, Oregon, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Montana each had one case of illness.