The recent E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s onions served on Quarter Pounder burgers has led to at least 104 reported cases, with 34 individuals requiring hospitalization. Cases have been identified across 14 states, with Colorado having the highest number of reported cases at 30. One person in Colorado has died, and four others have developed a potentially life-threatening kidney complication. The reported illnesses occurred between September 12 and October 21, with several individuals noting they had consumed McDonald’s food while traveling.
The CDC has identified slivered onions on Quarter Pounders as the likely source of the outbreak. California-based produce supplier Taylor Farms issued a recall for onions potentially tied to the contamination. FDA tests detected a strain of E. coli with a harmful toxin in one onion sample, but it did not match the strain responsible for the reported illnesses. Quarter Pounders were removed from menus in several states at the start of the outbreak, and the onions used at McDonald’s are now past their shelf life and are no longer in circulation. CDC officials have stated that the public risk remains low.
E. coli is a type of bacteria that normally resides in the intestines of humans and animals, but certain strains can cause severe foodborne illness. The strain involved in this outbreak, Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, can lead to serious infections and potentially life-threatening complications. Symptoms of E. coli poisoning include fever, vomiting, diarrhea (perhaps bloody), and signs of dehydration, such as low urine output, increased thirst, and dizziness. Severe kidney injury can occur, especially in children under 5, for whom E. coli poisoning requires immediate medical attention.
The CDC has reported approximately 74,000 E. coli infections, over 2,000 hospitalizations, and 61 deaths in the U.S. each year. While most strains of E. coli are harmless, the Shiga toxin-producing strain involved in this outbreak is particularly dangerous. It is essential to seek medical attention if symptoms of E. coli poisoning develop, especially for young children. The public risk from this outbreak has been deemed low by health officials, as the onions have been removed from McDonald’s menus and are no longer in circulation.
In response to the E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s onions, federal health officials have reported at least 104 cases, with 34 individuals requiring hospitalization. Cases have been identified across 14 states, with Colorado having the highest number of reported cases at 30. One death has occurred in Colorado, and four individuals have developed a potentially life-threatening kidney complication. The outbreak has prompted a recall of onions potentially tied to the contamination and the removal of Quarter Pounders from McDonald’s menus in several states. The public risk remains low, but individuals are advised to seek medical attention if symptoms of E. coli poisoning develop.
