The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said Friday that at least 75 people across 13 states have fallen ill amid an E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders.
The outbreak announced Tuesday has grown with 26 new cases and 3 new states affected as of Friday, according to the CDC.
The CDC said 12 more people have been hospitalized from the outbreak, bringing the total to 22. There has also been one death reported so far.
McDonald’s said Tuesday that it will temporarily remove the Quarter Pounder from the menu at locations in Colorado, Kansas, Utah and Wyoming, as well as portions of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico and Oklahoma, calling it “the right thing to do.”
AP Photo/Richard Drew
What Caused the E. Coli Outbreak?
It’s still unclear what the exact source of the outbreak was, but investigators have focused on slivered onions used on the quarter-pound burgers and the beef patties.
McDonald’s said on Tuesday that its initial investigation pointed to slivered onions sourced from a single supplier serving three distribution centers.
On Thursday, McDonald’s said that Taylor Farms of Salinas, California, sent onions to one distribution facility, leading the fast-food chain to remove the burgers from its menus in several states.
The CDC also says Taylor Farms was “the supplier of slivered onions to the affected McDonald’s locations,” according to its webite.
U.S. Foods, a major wholesaler to restaurants across America, said Thursday that Taylor Farms issued a recall this week for peeled whole and diced yellow onions for potential E. coli contamination. The recalled onions came out of a facility in Colorado.
But the wholesaler also said that Taylor Farms wasn’t a McDonald’s supplier and that its recall didn’t include any products sold at McDonald’s restaurants.
Taylor Farms did not respond to multiple requests for comment by The Associated Press (AP) as of Thursday.
Due to “product actions taken by” Taylor Farms and McDonald’s the “CDC believes the risk to the public is very low,” the agency said on its website.
Other Restaurant Chains Take Opinions Off Some Menus
Yum Brands, based in Louisville, Kentucky, said Thursday, “As we continue to monitor the recently reported E. coli outbreak, and out of an abundance of caution, we have proactively removed fresh onions from select Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC restaurants.”
Yum Brands didn’t say whether the company uses the same supplier as McDonald’s.
Restaurant Brands International, which owns Burger King, said Thursday that 5 percent of its restaurants use onions distributed by the Taylor Farms facility in Colorado. The company said it asked these restaurants to dispose of the onions two days ago and said it’s restocking with onions from other suppliers.
Chipotle said Thursday that it doesn’t use onions from Taylor Farms or any other ingredients from its Colorado facility.
What Is E. Coli and How Dangerous Is It?
E. coli are bacteria that can be found in food, water and even the intestines of people and animals. Most E. coli are harmless and actually help digest food, produce vitamins and protect humans from harmful germs, according to the CDC.
However, some E. coli can sicken people, causing symptoms like diarrhea and stomach cramps. Some E. coli can also cause urinary tract infections, pneumonia and sepsis, the CDC says.
Groups at an increased risk for E. coli infection include children under 5 years old, adults 65 years or older, people with weakened immune systems and international travelers, according to the CDC.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
