McDonald's burgers linked to deadly E. coli outbreak in the US – DW – October 23, 2024

One person has died and dozens have fallen ill from E. coli food poisoning linked to McDonald's Quarter Pounder hamburgers in several U.S. states, federal health authorities said Tuesday.

The outbreak – which began in September – has spread to 10 western states and at least 49 infections have been reported, the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said.

“Epidemiological data shows that Quarter Pounder hamburgers served at McDonald's are contaminated with E. coli and are making people sick,” the CDC said.

Most cases are concentrated in Colorado and Nebraska. Other affected states include Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

According to the CDC, 10 people were hospitalized – including a child with serious kidney complications.

“An elderly person in Colorado has died,” the CDC added.

Most people remember eating Quarter Pounders

All people interviewed in connection with the infections said they had eaten at McDonald's before becoming ill.

Most of them mentioned eating the popular Quarter Pounder hamburger, according to the CDC.

The bacterial strain in question, E. coli O157:H7, can cause serious illness. It was also the source of an outbreak in 1993, when four children died after eating undercooked hamburgers at Jack in the Box restaurants.

“Initial information from the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) suggests that onions may be a source of this outbreak. Investigators from all agencies are working quickly to identify the contaminated ingredient,” the CDC said.

What did McDonald's say?

McDonald's shares fell more than 6% in extended trading after the world's largest grocery chain was linked to the E. coli outbreak.

“Food safety is so important to me and everyone at McDonald's,” McDonald's USA President Joe Erlinger said in a video message.

The company has stopped selling the sliced ​​onions and temporarily removed the Quarter Pounder from the menu in affected regions.

Additionally, the Quarter Pounder has been temporarily removed from the menu in parts of Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico and Oklahoma.

“We have taken steps to proactively remove cut onions used in Quarter Pounders in select states,” Erlinger said

“We have also decided to temporarily remove the Quarter Pounder from restaurants in select states,” he added.

dvv/zc (AP, AFP, Reuters, dpa)