E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder | E. coli infection | CDC official website uses .gov
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October 25, 2024
Survey start date: October 22, 2024
Investigation status: Open
Recall issued: Yes
Update as of 10/25: More illnesses reported, and everyone interviewed continued to report eating at McDonald’s before becoming ill. The recent illness started on October 10th. Taylor Farms has initiated a voluntary recall of some onions sent to food service providers. Due to the product measures taken by both companies, the CDC believes the risk to the general public is very low.
US
Number of cases: 75 (26 new) Hospitalizations: 22 (12 new) Deaths: 1 (0 new) States: 13 (3 new)
Update as of 10/25: More illnesses reported, and everyone interviewed continued to report eating at McDonald’s before becoming ill. The most recent illness started on October 10th. Taylor Farms has initiated a voluntary recall of some onions sent to food service providers. Due to the product measures taken by both companies, the CDC believes the risk to the general public is very low.
Situation overview
CDC, FDA, USDA FSIS, and public health authorities in multiple states are investigating an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections. Most participants in this outbreak reported eating a Quarter Pounder hamburger at McDonald’s before becoming ill. It is not yet known which food ingredients are contaminated.
McDonald’s is working with research partners to determine which food ingredients in the Quarter Pounder are causing people to get sick. McDonald’s has stopped using fresh sliced onions and quarter pound beef patties in several states while an investigation is underway to identify the ingredients that cause the illness.
Taylor Farms, which supplies sliced onions to affected McDonald’s restaurants, has initiated a voluntary recall and asked customers to stop using some onions while the investigation is ongoing. Food service customers were contacted directly and told to remove the onions.
contaminated food
McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburger is making people sick
Quarter Pounder burgers will be temporarily unavailable in some states while McDonald’s makes changes to its supply. Some McDonald’s stores in Colorado, Kansas, Utah, Wyoming and Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, and Oklahoma currently have a supply of quarters. We have temporarily discontinued the pounder’s sliced onion and beef patties. McDonald’s is actively making these changes while investigators work to identify contaminated ingredients. Quarter pound beef patties are only used in quarter pounders. Fresh sliced onions are primarily used in Quarter Pounder burgers and not on other menu items. Investigators are working to determine which ingredients in these burgers are making people sick and whether they made their way to other restaurants or stores.
what to do
McDonald’s has stopped using freshly sliced onions and quarter-pound beef patties in several states to protect customers while the cause of the illness is confirmed.
If you have severe E. coli symptoms, contact your health care provider.
Diarrhea and a fever of 102°F or higher Diarrhea that does not improve for more than 3 days Bloody diarrhea Vomiting too much to keep fluids down Signs of dehydration include: Not urinating much Mouth and throat is dry I feel dizzy when standing up
What companies should do
Food service operators must not sell, eat, or serve yellow onions recalled by Taylor Farms. Taylor Farms reached out to the companies directly.
E. coli symptoms
Most people infected with E. coli bacteria that produce Shiga toxin experience severe abdominal pain, diarrhea (often bloody), and vomiting. Symptoms usually begin 3 to 4 days after swallowing the bacteria. Most people recover after 5 to 7 days without treatment. Some people may develop severe kidney problems (also called hemolytic uremic syndrome, HUS) and require hospitalization. For more information about E. coli, please see the “About E. coli infections” page dated October 25, 2024.
Content source:
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)
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