McDonald’s is bringing back its Quarter Pounder burgers in all US locations after discovering that its beef patties were not the cause of an E. coli outbreak that resulted in at least one death and numerous illnesses.
The fast food chain stated that the beef patties sampled by the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) tested negative for the bacteria.
Additionally, McDonald’s mentioned that the CDA has no plans for additional testing. Last week, the company halted Quarter Pounder sales in about 20% of its US restaurants as a reaction to the outbreak.
“The issue appears to be contained to a particular ingredient and geography, and we remain very confident that any contaminated product related to this outbreak has been removed from our supply chain,” Cesar Piña, McDonald’s North America Chief Supply Chain Officer, said in a statement.
The US Food and Drug Administration identified the slivered onions used in Quarter Pounders as a possible contributor to the outbreak. McDonald’s confirmed it had ceased its partnership with the onion supplier and removed them from its supply chain.
“The 900 restaurants that historically received slivered onions from Taylor Farms’ Colorado Springs facility will resume sales of Quarter Pounders without slivered onions,” McDonald’s said.
McDonald’s is currently dealing with lawsuits from multiple individuals who fell ill. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advised those who consumed a Quarter Pounder and is experiencing symptoms like diarrhoea, fever, and vomiting to see a physician.
Symptoms of an E. coli infection can appear four days after ingesting contaminated food. Most people recover on their own within five to seven days, but some require medical examination.
Since the report of the outbreak, McDonald’s lost over 7.5% of its value.
In July, the restaurant saw a decline in global sales, its first quarterly drop in sales in more than three years.