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Federal health officials have concluded an investigation into an E. coli outbreak in multiple states linked to contaminated sliced onions previously used in McDonald’s Quarter Pounder burgers.
The outbreak, first identified in October, has sickened 104 people in 14 states, resulting in 34 hospitalizations and one death.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration linked the outbreak to yellow onions distributed by Taylor Farms, which immediately issued a voluntary recall of the onions.
McDonald’s followed suit, removing the recalled product from restaurants in the affected states before finding an alternative source of chopped onions for hundreds of restaurants.
“The CDC and FDA have confirmed that their respective investigations into E. coli at McDonald’s have been completed,” fast food chain officials said in a statement. “Federal and state officials have repeatedly stated that our immediate actions in October made the risk to the public ‘very low,’ and the risk has remained very low ever since.”
Of the 104 reported cases, almost 99% of patients interviewed had eaten at McDonald’s before becoming ill, and 84% specifically mentioned eating a menu item that included julienned onions. I remembered.
Colorado and Montana reported the highest number of cases, with each state reporting between 16 and 30 illnesses.
Symptoms of E. coli infection can range from severe abdominal pain and diarrhea to life-threatening complications such as kidney failure. Federal and state officials have emphasized the importance of food service providers following safe handling and cleaning practices to prevent cross-contamination.
Additional testing of recalled onions did not detect the specific outbreak strain, but evidence indicates yellow onions were the likely source, officials said. The CDC has confirmed that there have been no new illnesses linked to McDonald’s since the company took action in October.
Restaurants that may have purchased contaminated onions are urged not to serve them and to throw away frozen food. The FDA said it is unlikely that the contaminated onions were sold to grocery stores or directly to consumers.
Click here to read the results of the investigation completed by the FDA.
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