McDonald’s Quarter Pounders Linked to E. coli Outbreak in 10 States, CDC Warns

McDonald’s Quarter Pounder linked to E. coli outbreak in 10 states, CDC says. 49 people sick, 10 hospitalized, and 1 dead.

CDC Investigates E. coli Outbreak Linked to McDonald's Quarter Pounder in 10 States

 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced an active investigation into an E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers, affecting ten states. The outbreak has sickened 49 people, with ten individuals requiring hospitalization. Unfortunately, the outbreak has also led to one confirmed death.

 

The CDC’s alert, issued Tuesday, warns the public of the ongoing risk, with most affected individuals reporting having consumed McDonald’s Quarter Pounders before falling ill. This fast-moving investigation has prompted McDonald’s to take swift action, pulling Quarter Pounders from restaurants in several affected states, including Colorado, Nebraska, Utah, and Wyoming.

 

According to the CDC, the primary ingredient under scrutiny is slivered onions, which may have been contaminated. These onions were sourced from a single supplier and distributed to multiple McDonald’s locations. McDonald’s is working closely with health authorities to pinpoint the contaminated product and prevent further cases.

 

Cesar Piña, McDonald’s North America chief supply chain officer, assured customers that the company is addressing the issue with urgency. He stated, “The initial findings indicate that a subset of illnesses may be linked to slivered onions used in the Quarter Pounder.”

 

As the investigation unfolds, McDonald’s has halted Quarter Pounder sales in numerous states, including parts of Kansas, Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, and Nevada. Customers in these areas may notice their local McDonald’s temporarily out of stock for Quarter Pounders.

 

The CDC has not released a complete list of all affected states but highlighted that Colorado and Nebraska have the highest number of reported cases so far. Customers who experience severe E. coli symptoms after consuming a Quarter Pounder should seek immediate medical attention.

 

McDonald’s USA President, Joe Erlinger, expressed the company’s commitment to food safety, stating that their priority is to safeguard public health. The fast-food giant is working with the CDC and health officials to identify the source and mitigate further risk.

 

The CDC advises the public to remain vigilant and avoid eating Quarter Pounders from McDonald’s until the outbreak is under control.