More than 100 people across the United States have fallen ill due to an E.coli outbreak linked to slivered onions used in McDonald's Quarter Pounder burgers, according to the latest report from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The outbreak has resulted in 34 hospitalizations and one death earlier this month, igniting responses from health officials and legal ramifications for the fast-food giant.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identified the onions as the "likely source" of the contamination, leading McDonald's supplier, Taylor Farms, to recall the affected onions in October. In response, McDonald's has found an alternate supplier and has begun selling Quarter Pounders with onions again at affected locations.
Investigation timelines show that illnesses began between September 12 and October 21, with direct distribution of the contaminated onions reaching western and midwestern states, including Colorado, Iowa, and Kansas, among others. Health officials have gathered onion and environmental samples from various McDonald's restaurants and distribution centers as part of the investigation.
The FDA confirmed that tests on the samples are still ongoing and that inspections have been conducted at both an onion grower facility in Washington and a Taylor Farms processing center in Colorado. Thankfully, the agency noted that there seems to be no existing food safety concern related to the outbreak within McDonald's restaurants at this time and expressed confidence that the recalled onions were not sold to grocery stores or consumers.
As a precaution, McDonald's temporarily suspended sales of the Quarter Pounder burger in about 20% of its restaurants in the wake of the outbreak. Legal action has emerged against the firm, including a proposed class-action lawsuit in October. The company halted its collaboration with the onion supplier and removed the contaminated product from its supply chain.
By the end of October, McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski demonstrated remorse for the incident, stating, "We offer our sincere and deepest sympathies and we are committed to making this right." The company has now quickly reinstated the sale of Quarter Pounders with slivered onions at approximately 900 restaurants and reassured consumers that food safety remains paramount to their operations.
