McDonald's has announced that Quarter Pounders will be back on the menu at hundreds of its restaurants following an E. coli outbreak that affected at least 75 people across 13 states, resulting in one fatality. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has identified slivered onions from a single supplier as the likely source of contamination.
McDonald's confirmed that Taylor Farms, a California-based produce company, was the supplier of the onions used in the affected restaurants. The company has taken steps to remove onions from the implicated facility from its supply chain indefinitely.
Testing ruled out beef patties as the source of the outbreak, with samples collected from various Colorado McDonald's locations testing negative for E. coli. Taylor Farms has recalled yellow onions from its Colorado facility as a precautionary measure.
Several other fast-food chains, including Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC, and Burger King, have also taken precautions by removing onions from certain menus in specific areas.
The outbreak, caused by E. coli 0157:H7, can lead to severe symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration. It poses a particular risk to vulnerable populations such as young children, the elderly, pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems.
McDonald's has stated that the Quarter Pounder will be available at affected restaurants without slivered onions in the coming week. The company emphasized that some cases reported outside the initial region were linked to travel, with individuals reporting dining at McDonald's during their trips.
The CDC continues to investigate the outbreak, urging individuals experiencing symptoms of E. coli poisoning to seek medical attention promptly. The agency estimates that E. coli infections result in thousands of hospitalizations and deaths annually in the U.S.
