E. coli Outbreak Tied to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders

The Food and Drug Administration(FDA),U.S. Department of Agriculture(USDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are looking into an outbreak of E. coli infections linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders. So far, 49 people have gotten sick in 10 states, with most cases in Colorado and Nebraska. Sadly, one older person has died, and 10 others have been hospitalized, including a child who developed a serious condition called hemolytic uremic syndrome due to the infection.

While the exact cause is not yet known, many of the sick people reported eating McDonald’s Quarter Pounders. Investigators are checking two possible sources: the slivered onions and the beef patties used in the burgers.

Preliminary results point to slivered onions as a possible cause, and the FDA is working to confirm this. As a safety step, McDonald’s has stopped using these onions in the affected states, although diced onions have not been linked to the outbreak. The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is also investigating if the beef patties might be responsible. McDonald’s has temporarily stopped selling Quarter Pounder patties in these states while the investigation continues. If you or a loved one consumed McDonald’s Quarter Pounders and were affected, now is the time to act. Reach out to Keep Food Safe to discuss your legal options.