The E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers has risen to 75 reported cases, up from 49, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Of the 61 individuals for whom information is available, 22 have been hospitalized, with two developing hemolytic uremic syndrome, a severe condition that can lead to kidney failure.
The outbreak involves the E. coli O157:H7 strain, which has already resulted in one fatality. This strain poses a significant risk, particularly for the elderly, children, and those with weakened immune systems.
In response, McDonald’s has temporarily halted the sale of the Quarter Pounder at approximately 20% of its 14,000 US locations. Initial FDA findings suggest that slivered onions, supplied by a single source serving three distribution centers, are the likely cause of the outbreak.
Taylor Farms is identified as the supplier for the affected restaurants, and both McDonald’s and the supplier have initiated a voluntary recall of potentially contaminated products, including several batches of yellow onions produced in a Colorado facility.
McDonald’s announced that the onions from Taylor Farms were distributed to around 900 restaurants in Colorado, Kansas, Wyoming, and parts of neighboring states. The company has also decided to stop sourcing onions from the Colorado facility indefinitely.
The US Department of Agriculture has noted that while onions are the primary suspects, testing is also underway for E. coli in the beef used in the burgers.
As of October 24, the outbreak has impacted several states, including Colorado, Kansas, Utah, and others, with Colorado alone reporting 26 infections.
Despite these measures, the CDC indicated that the public risk remains very low. In light of the situation, other fast-food chains, such as Taco Bell and Burger King, are also removing fresh onions from their menus due to their shared supplier.
McDonald’s shares fell about 3% on Friday, as analysts predict the potential for more infections and ongoing negative media coverage could affect investor sentiment.
