Getty ImagesAt least 75 people in 13 states have become infected after eating McDonald’s Quarter Pounders linked to a deadly E. coli strain, health officials announced Friday.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that 22 people have been hospitalized and one person has died.
Most cases of E. coli, a type of bacteria that can cause serious stomach illness, have been recorded in western and midwestern states.
Officials said the risk to the public was “very low” as McDonald’s and other major food companies temporarily removed onions from their products due to the outbreak.
Here's what we know so far:
How big is the outbreak?
More illnesses have been reported since the CDC announced Tuesday that it was tracking an outbreak of 49 E. coli cases concentrated in Colorado and Nebraska.
As of Friday, authorities had recorded 75 cases in 13 states.
Of the 26 people who became ill in Colorado, one elderly person died. This is the first and only death related to the outbreak.
The CDC says infected children have been hospitalized with a condition known as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can lead to kidney failure.
The first confirmed case was reported on September 27, but McDonald’s said authorities only notified the company of concerns late last week. The most recent one was on October 10th.
The CDC said all people interviewed so far reported eating at McDonald’s before becoming ill.
What is the source?
McDonald’s responded earlier this week by temporarily removing Quarter Pounders and raw onion slices from about a fifth of its U.S. stores.
Investigators are focusing on the possibility that onions, a popular topping, were the source of the contamination.
The CDC and FDA said Tuesday they had not yet ruled out the possibility that the patty itself was the culprit.
The chain agreed with that assessment, but also said its burgers were cooked at 175 degrees, above the 160 degrees needed to kill E. coli.
McDonald’s said the incident involved purchases from multiple stores and that it was unlikely there was any negligence in the preparation of the food.
According to the company, the stores involved used multiple suppliers for beef patties, but shared a single supplier for onions, and that supplier was a California-based supplier, one of the world’s largest vegetable processors. One of them was identified as Taylor Farms.
Out of an abundance of caution, Taylor Farms, which works with major food supply companies such as U.S. Foods, issued its own recall on some lots of onions.
In a statement provided to the BBC’s US news partner CBS News, Taylor Farms said it had tested “raw and finished” onion products and found “no trace of E. coli”. .
The CDC said Friday that it believes the risk to the public is “very low” due to product measures taken by McDonald’s and Taylor Farms.
Which restaurants will be affected and where?
The chain’s decision to take Quarter Pounders and sliced onions off the menu comes in Colorado, Kansas, Utah and Wyoming, as well as Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada and New Mexico. Affecting some stores in Oklahoma.
Other hamburger products are not affected.
On Thursday, fast food company Yum! Brands said it is monitoring the outbreak and has decided to proactively remove raw onions from “select Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC restaurants” in the United States.
The company did not say how many locations were affected by the decision.
Burger King announced Thursday that about 5% of its restaurants receive onions from Taylor Farms. There are no signs of contamination or illness at these restaurants, but the chain said it is culling and restocking produce.
Major supplier US Foods has also issued a warning to its customers, including small regional chains.
What is E. coli poisoning and what are its symptoms?
E. coli is a diverse group of bacteria that normally live in the intestines of humans and animals.
Many are harmless, but some produce toxins that can make humans seriously ill.
Symptoms include severe, sometimes bloody diarrhea, stomach cramps, vomiting, and fever.
Some infections can cause more serious problems, such as kidney failure.
Symptoms tend to appear 3 to 9 days after eating contaminated food.
How will it affect McDonald’s?
McDonald’s stock began Wednesday down 7% after news of the outbreak became public. They have since regained some ground.
The burger giant said this week it was too early to say how much damage it would hurt sales.
The company said it believes it has eliminated the problem from its supply chain and aims to return Quarter Pounders to affected states in the coming weeks.
But the problem comes at a time when McDonald’s is already on the defensive as customers spend less on fast food.
Changes in consumer spending have led McDonald’s and other chains to rely more heavily on discounts and other promotions.
first lawsuit
The first lawsuit against McDonald’s over the outbreak was filed by a man in Greeley, Colorado, who became ill two days after eating at the restaurant.
After receiving emergency treatment, Eric Stelly tested positive for E. coli, and health officials confirmed that his infection was linked to the outbreak, according to a press release from his attorney Ron Simon. It is said that he did.
“We will ensure that all victims are fully compensated for their losses, and that McDonald’s and its suppliers permanently correct the health violations that led to the E. coli contamination of their food,” Simon said. .
The lawsuit was filed in Chicago, where the fast food chain is headquartered.