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Washington, United States of America (USA)
The McDonald’s logo is pictured outside a store in Dearborn, Michigan on October 17, 2024 (AFP)
The outbreak, which began in late September, has spread to 10 western states, with most of the 49 cases concentrated in Colorado and Nebraska, the health agency said.
At least one person has died and dozens have become ill after a severe E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Tuesday.
The outbreak, which began in late September, has spread to 10 western states, with most of the 49 cases concentrated in Colorado and Nebraska, the health agency said. Shares of the fast-food chain fell more than six percent in after-hours trading after the announcement.
E. COLI outbreak: CDC investigates 49 illnesses in 10 states linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers. If you ate a Quarter Pounder hamburger from McDonald’s and have severe symptoms of E. coli, contact your healthcare provider. https://t.co/g87itkupCQ pic.twitter.com/gHzUKCnTi9— CDC (@CDCgov) October 22, 2024
Ten people were hospitalized, including a child with hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious condition that damages blood vessels in the kidneys. “One elderly person in Colorado has died,” the CDC said in a statement. The affected people all carried the same strain of E. coli and reported eating at McDonald’s before developing their symptoms, most specifically recalling having Quarter Pounders.
Although researchers have not yet determined the exact ingredient causing the outbreak, they are focusing on chopped onions and beef patties — both of which have been removed from restaurants in the affected states pending further investigation.
“Food safety is so important to me and everyone at McDonald’s,” Joe Erlinger, president of McDonald’s USA, said in a video message. “We have taken steps to proactively remove the chopped onions that are used in Quarter Pounders in select states.
“We have also made the decision to temporarily remove the Quarter Pounder from restaurants in select states.” He added that most states are not affected. In affected countries, other menu items, including other beef products, remain available.
The agency advised those who consumed the Quarter Pounder and developed symptoms of E. coli poisoning — such as diarrhea, fever above 102 degrees Fahrenheit (38.9C) and vomiting — to seek medical attention. Symptoms usually begin three to four days after exposure, and most people recover within five to seven days without treatment. However, some cases can become severe and require hospitalization.
(With information from the agency)
