Health officials are investigating an E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders in multiple states, with at least 49 people in 10 states falling ill. It is unclear which ingredient in the hamburgers is making people sick, but slivered onions and quarter-pound beef patties used specifically for Quarter Pounders are being investigated. One person has died and 10 have been hospitalized, including a child who developed a kidney disease. McDonald’s has stopped using slivered onions and quarter-pound beef patties in several states. The CDC is working with McDonald’s and suspects that more illnesses may be reported. Symptoms of E. coli infection include fever, stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting. Sixteen of those who fell ill had eaten at McDonald’s before getting sick, with 12 specifically mentioning the Quarter Pounder hamburger. The FDA is investigating whether the slivered onions were served or sold to other businesses, while diced onions used in other McDonald’s products are not implicated in the outbreak. Most cases have been reported in Colorado, with other cases in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The outbreak began on Sept. 27, with the CDC starting its investigation on Oct. 15. While the risk to the public is low now that affected products have been removed, more illnesses are expected to be reported as it usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak.
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Multiple states experience E. coli outbreak connected to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders
