Nearly 100 people have fallen ill after onions served in burgers from McDonald’s were found to be contaminated with E. coli, a bacterium that can cause food poisoning.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 90 people nationwide have fallen ill after consuming slivered onions, supplied by Taylor Farms, which were served in Quarter Pounder burger products from McDonald’s. The outbreak has now spread across 13 states, hospitalized 27 people, with one person having died from their illness.
The CDC says that the number of cases “may not be limited to the states with known illnesses, and the true number of sick people is likely much higher than the number reported.”
The outbreak was first reported in Colorado, which is the state with the most reported illnesses, with 29 people having fallen ill. Montana has the second highest number of reported cases with 17, followed by Nebraska, where 12 people are sick after eating the tainted products.
McDonald’s previously said it had stopped selling its Quarter Pounder burgers in restaurants across Colorado, Kansas, Utah and Wyoming, as well as portions of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, while it determined the cause of the outbreak.
The CDC has now confirmed that only the slivered onions were contaminated, and McDonald’s has resumed sale of its Quarter Pounder burgers in impacted restaurants. All other food items for sale at McDonald’s restaurants are not impacted.
In a statement issued on October 27, the fast-food giant said it remains “very confident that any contaminated product related to this outbreak has been removed from our supply chain and is out of all McDonald’s restaurants.” It added that the chain will stop sourcing onions from Taylor Farms’ Colorado Springs facility indefinitely.
The CDC said in its latest October 30 update that, due to actions taken by both McDonald’s and Taylor Farms, it “believes the risk to the public is very low,” and the likelihood of contaminated onions still being available for sale is low.
E. coli—which stands for Escherichia coli—is a bacteria that normally lives in the intestines, where it is generally harmless. However, some strains can cause illness, and it can be particularly dangerous for at-risk groups, including children under 5, adults over 65, and those with a weakened immune system.
Infections can produce a range of unpleasant symptoms, including painful stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea and vomiting. Most people recover without the need for medical treatment within five to seven days.
Anyone who suspects they have contracted E. coli should contact their health care provider if they have severe symptoms, the CDC advises, especially if they are dehydrated and are struggling to keep liquids down.
