The CDC recently provided an update on the ongoing E. coli outbreak across the United States, first identified on October 22. At this point, 75 cases have been reported, including 26 new ones since the investigation began.
Additional states are now affected, bringing the total to 13 states. Most people affected had eaten a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburger before falling ill. This quickly advancing investigation involves collaboration between McDonald’s, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and other public health authorities.
Though the exact source of contamination hasn’t been conclusively confirmed, preliminary reports suggest that onions might be the culprit. McDonald’s responded by pulling affected products and reassuring customers that the issue had been localized and resolved.
Potential Link to Onions: Taylor Farms Takes Action
The FDA’s preliminary investigation points to onions as a probable source of the E. coli contamination. In response, Taylor Farms, a major supplier of onions, voluntarily recalled its yellow onions from a facility in Colorado.
In a statement released on October 25, Taylor Farms said, “Our priority remains the health and safety of our consumers. We have preemptively recalled yellow onions from our Taylor Farms Colorado facility that were sent to select food service clients.”
As a result, McDonald’s confirmed that 900 restaurants that previously received onions from this Colorado facility will temporarily resume Quarter Pounder sales without slivered onions.
These locations include parts of:
- Colorado
- Kansas
- Wyoming
- Idaho
- Iowa
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- Oklahoma
- Utah.
McDonald’s Response and Safety Precautions
McDonald’s has ceased sourcing onions from the Taylor Farms Colorado facility. During an earnings call on October 29, CEO Chris Kempczinski confirmed that Colorado Department of Agriculture testing did not find any E. coli in the beef patties.
He announced that McDonald’s would resume Quarter Pounder sales nationwide within the coming week, thanks to fresh beef patties from different suppliers in the affected areas.
Key Locations Reporting E. Coli Cases Linked to McDonald’s
As of now, the outbreak has impacted residents in these states:
- Colorado: 26 cases
- Montana: 13 cases
- Nebraska: 11 cases
- Utah and New Mexico: 5 cases each
- Wyoming and Missouri: 4 cases each
- Michigan: 2 cases
- Washington, Oregon, Kansas, Iowa, and Wisconsin: 1 case each
The reported cases began between September 27 and October 10. Out of the 61 patients with available health information, 22 have required hospitalization, with two experiencing severe complications that could lead to kidney failure.
Additionally, one death has been reported in Colorado. The CDC expects cases to increase as more reports come in, as tracking and confirming such cases typically takes weeks.
How to Identify E. Coli Symptoms and When to Seek Medical Help
The CDC advises seeking medical attention if you have recently eaten a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder and are experiencing severe symptoms. E. coli symptoms can appear 3-4 days after eating contaminated food, with common symptoms including:
- Severe stomach cramps
- Persistent diarrhea
- Vomiting, sometimes severe
- Fever over 102°F (39°C)
- Dizziness
In most cases, people recover without medical treatment within five to seven days. However, severe cases can lead to more serious health issues, including kidney failure. Therefore, it’s essential to seek professional advice if symptoms appear.
Ongoing Public Health Measures and What’s Next
As the investigation progresses, the CDC closely monitors new reports and works with McDonald’s and the FDA to keep consumers informed.
Taylor Farms’ preemptive recall and McDonald’s decision to halt onion use from the implicated supplier aim to protect public health and prevent further spread of the outbreak.
Though the CDC’s Food Safety Alert remains in place, they note that current actions have significantly reduced the risk of exposure to consumers.
FAQs
Most reported cases have involved people who ate a McDonald’s Quarter Patty. However, McDonald’s has removed potentially contaminated ingredients, such as onions from the implicated supplier, from its restaurants.
McDonald’s worked with the CDC and FDA to identify and remove the likely contaminated product. They have stopped sourcing onions from the Colorado supplier linked to the outbreak and assured customers that the risk is shallow.
E. coli symptoms often include stomach cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, and fever. These symptoms typically begin 3-4 days after consuming the contaminated food.
Yes, Colorado, Montana, and Nebraska have reported the highest numbers. However, cases have also been identified in 10 additional states, and the investigation is ongoing.
If you experience severe symptoms after eating a Quarter Pounder or any other food item, contact your healthcare provider immediately, mainly if symptoms include fever, dizziness, or intense stomach pain.
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