McDonald's is investing $100 million to bring customers back to stores after an outbreak of E. coli food poisoning tied to onions.
The investments include $65 million that will go directly to the hardest-hit franchises, the company said.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that slivered onions on the Quarter Pounders were the likely source of the E. coli. Taylor Farms in California recalled onions potentially linked to the outbreak.
Colorado reported at least 30 cases; Montana reported 19; Nebraska, 13; and New Mexico, 10. The illnesses were reported between Sept. 12 and Oct. 21. At least 104 people got sick and 34 were hospitalized, according to federal health officials.
The Food and Drug Administration has said that “there does not appear to be a continued food safety concern related to this outbreak at McDonald’s restaurants.”
But the outbreak hurt the company's sales.
Quarter Pounders were removed from menus in several states in the early days of the outbreak. McDonald’s identified an alternate supplier for the 900 restaurants that temporarily stopped serving the burgers with onions. Over the past week, McDonald's resumed selling Quarter Pounders with slivered onions nationwide.
In October the company revealed it is struggling with weak demand in the UK with sales falling fallen for the second consecutive quarter.
The fast-food giant is also struggling with weak demand in France and other international markets.
In its international operated markets sales fell 2.1%, “impacted by negative comparable sales across a number of markets, driven by France and the UK”.
On Saturday, McDonald’s released its Christmas 2024 advert in the UK, featuring an unexpected club soundtrack.
Directed by the award-winning, Nicolai Fuglsig, the 60-second spot follows a couple sitting in their car after a busy day buying Christmas presents for their family. The Golden Arches is glowing in the distance which entices the couple to spontaneously visit McDonald’s via a larger-than-life light display.
Cue the couple driving through a suburban neighbourhood complete with festive lights flashing to the beat of Benny Benassi’s Satisfaction.
The advert will make its TV debut on Sunday (17 November) to coincide with ITV’s launch of I’m A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here.
