US-(Special Correspodent): The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Friday that the number of E. coli infections associated with McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers has risen to 75, up from 49.
Of the 61 individuals for whom information was available, 22 have been hospitalized, with two of those developing hemolytic uremic syndrome, a severe condition that can lead to kidney failure.
The outbreak is caused by the E. coli O157:H7 strain, which is known to result in “very serious disease,” particularly among the elderly, children, and those with weakened immune systems. The outbreak has also resulted in one reported death.
In response, McDonald’s has temporarily halted the sale of Quarter Pounders in about 20% of its 14,000 locations across the U.S. The FDA and the company have indicated that slivered onions used in the burgers are likely the source of the outbreak, sourced from a single supplier serving three distribution centers.
Taylor Farms is the supplier implicated for the affected restaurants, and McDonald’s has initiated a voluntary recall. The supplier has also recalled multiple batches of yellow onions produced at a facility in Colorado.
McDonald’s revealed on Friday that onions from Taylor Farms’ Colorado facility were sent to approximately 900 restaurants in Colorado, Kansas, Wyoming, and other nearby states. The company has decided to indefinitely cease sourcing onions from that facility.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has stated that, although onions are the primary suspects, one of its state partners is conducting tests on beef samples used in the burgers for E. coli contamination.
As of October 24, the outbreak has impacted states including Colorado, Kansas, Utah, Wyoming, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oregon, Wisconsin, Washington, and Michigan, with Colorado reporting 26 infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Despite the measures taken by McDonald’s and Taylor Farms, the CDC has assessed that the risk to the public remains very low.
In light of the situation, other major fast-food chains, such as Taco Bell and Burger King’s parent company, Restaurant Brands, are also removing fresh onions from their menu items due to their sourcing from Taylor Farms.
McDonald’s shares fell approximately 3% on Friday. BTIG analyst Peter Saleh remarked that the potential for further infections remains, and the ongoing negative media coverage poses the greatest risk to investors.
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