A recent outbreak of E. coli which has claimed one life, sickened dozens and hospitalized 10 has the CDC, FDA and USDA investigating McDonald’s popular Quarter Pounder hamburgers.
Beef patties and slivered onions are being looked at as the possible source.
At its website https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/outbreaks/e-coli-O157.html the CDC states, “New as of 10/23: In the Contaminated Food Section, CDC added a list of states where McDonald’s removed slivered onions and beef patties. States: Colorado, Kansas, Utah, Wyoming, and portions of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.”
The site says, “CDC, FDA, USDA FSIS, and public health officials in multiple states are investigating an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections. Most people in this outbreak are reporting eating the Quarter Pounder hamburger at McDonald’s before becoming sick. It is not yet known which specific food ingredient is contaminated.
“McDonald’s is collaborating with investigation partners to determine what food ingredient in Quarter Pounders is making people sick. McDonald’s stopped using fresh slivered onions and quarter-pound beef patties in several states while the investigation is ongoing to identify the ingredient causing illness.”
It also says, “McDonald’s stores in Colorado, Kansas, Utah, Wyoming, and portions of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, and Oklahoma have temporarily stopped using Quarter Pounder slivered onions and beef patties.
“McDonald’s is proactively making these changes while investigators work to confirm the contaminated ingredient. Quarter-pound beef patties are only used on Quarter Pounders. Fresh-slivered onions are primarily used on Quarter Pounder hamburgers and not other menu items.
“Investigators are working to confirm which ingredient in these hamburgers is making people sick and if it went to other restaurants or stores.”
McDonald’s released a formal statement Oct. 22, and it can be read in its entirety within a story posted at https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/read-McDonald’s-full-statement-on-multistate-e-coli-outbreak-linked-to-popular-menu-item/3581087/?os=a&ref=app .
In working with the CDC and FDA, fast-food giant is changing its menu to remove suspected items.
McDonald’s statement said, “It is why we are taking swift and decisive action following an E. Coli outbreak in certain states. 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 centers. As a result, and in line with our safety protocols, all local restaurants have been instructed to remove this product from their supply and we have paused the distribution of all slivered onions in the impacted area.”
A story published by AP on Oct. 22 at https://apnews.com/article/McDonald’s-e-coli-outbreak-422c4687cc9218efda03cae73b01f473 said 49 people had been sickened. One death was reported, an elderly Colorado man, and a child has been hospitalized with “severe kidney complications.”
