McDonald’s pulls quarter pounder amid E. Coli outbreak, one dead and nearly 50 sickened
In response to an E. coli outbreak linked to its Quarter Pounder burgers, McDonald’s has scrambled to mitigate the damage by removing the popular menu item from nearly 3,000 of its U.S. restaurants. The outbreak has tragically resulted in one death and sickened close to 50 individuals across the West and Midwest.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ten people have been hospitalized due to severe complications related to the outbreak, which the CDC is currently investigating. The agency has confirmed that the outbreak is limited to the United States.
McDonald’s has stated that it is examining its supplies of slivered onions and beef patties in collaboration with the CDC to identify the source of contamination. University of Guelph Food Science Professor Keith Warriner noted that onions can be contaminated through contact with water that carries E. coli from manure. He warned that climate change may exacerbate such contamination risks, as increased flooding and warmer temperatures can promote pathogen survival.
The Quarter Pounder has been pulled from menus in a fifth of McDonald’s 14,000 locations, specifically affecting restaurants in Colorado, Kansas, Utah, Wyoming, and several parts of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.
Historically, E. coli outbreaks at major fast-food chains have led to consumer hesitance, often affecting sales for months. However, many McDonald’s customers interviewed by Reuters expressed continued trust in both the company and governmental oversight.
As investigations continue, McDonald’s aims to ensure the safety of its customers while addressing the ongoing public health concern.
