Recent reports reveal a concerning outbreak of E. coli linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder, with the situation escalating as health officials confirm at least 75 suspected cases across 13 states. The outbreak has resulted in 22 hospitalizations and one reported death, with two individuals developing severe kidney issues.
According to officials from the FDA, the source of the E. coli infections remains unclear, although initial investigations suggest “undercooked onion slices” may be the culprits.
Among the states affected, Colorado has seen the highest number of E. coli cases, with 26 reported infections. Montana follows with 13 cases, and Nebraska has recorded 11. Other states reporting infections include Utah and New Mexico with 5 cases each, Missouri and Wyoming with 4, and Michigan with 2. Iowa, Kansas, Oregon, Wisconsin, and Washington each have one reported case. Some patients reported traveling to other states prior to becoming ill, with at least three individuals indicating they consumed McDonald’s burgers during their travels. The onset of these “out-of-state” cases occurred between September 27 and October 11. On October 25, McDonald’s announced that the affected restaurants will no longer sell the Quarter Pounder.
FDA officials noted that Taylor Farms, the onion supplier, only formally notified its customers about the product recall, without alerting the general public. Typically, the company issues a recall news release, which the FDA then disseminates to the public; however, there is no legal requirement for suppliers to directly inform consumers.
McDonald’s confirmed that the recalled onions from Taylor Farms had been distributed to some of the restaurants linked to the illnesses, although the exact distribution centers were not disclosed. On the same day that the outbreak was formally announced, McDonald’s ceased sales of the Quarter Pounder in multiple states, primarily in the Midwest and the western Rocky Mountain states.
In light of the outbreak, other fast-food chains, including Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC, and Burger King, have also begun to eliminate raw onions in certain locations. Restaurant Brands International Inc., the parent company of Burger King, stated that about 5% of its restaurants use whole onions sourced from Taylor Farms’ Colorado facility, which are prepared by their own staff. As a precaution, these locations are discarding all onions from that supplier.
