E. coli Outbreak Linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders: 49 People Sickened

A newly reported E. coli outbreak has sickened people in a wide number of places: 49 cases reported in 10 states, including at least one death in Colorado, connected with McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers. According to reports by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the outbreak occurred between Sept. 27 and Oct. 11. To this far, ten people have been hospitalized due to the outbreak, including a child who has developed severe kidney complication. As such, health officials call on the public to be observant and be aware of the symptoms that come with E. coli infections.

The tainted E. coli have been traced back defensively to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders, the company’s signature hamburger that has sickened at least 49 people in a spate of states: Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oregon, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Colorado is the hardest hit state, with 27 cases – including the death of an older individual. Nine were reported in Nebraska, with the rest spread over the other eight states. The illnesses occurred over a brief period in late September to mid-October.

The United States Department of Agriculture in collaboration with the Food and Drug Administration is conducting a running investigation to trace the actual cause of contamination. Albeit unverified yet, some preliminary reports suggest that the potential causes may point to slivered onions used for the preparation of the Quarter Pounders. Currently, such onions supplied by a single vendor are being scrutinized closely.

One more area under investigation is contamination in beef patties used to prepare hamburgers.

Meanwhile, McDonald’s pulled Quarter Pounders from the menus of states where the affected individuals live as well as stopped using both the slivered onions and beef patties until the continued investigation. In a statement, fast-food giant McDonald’s wrote, “We take food safety extremely seriously, and it’s the right thing to do.” E. coli infections can cause a person severe stomach cramps, diarrhea-often bloody-along with vomiting. The complication of the infection may be serious in some cases. Particularly in young children and older adults, the bacteria E. coli O157:H7 involved in this outbreak causes serious illness. In children below five years of age, the infection of E. coli causes HUS or hemolytic uremic syndrome, a kind of kidney failure.

All those persons who have taken a bite of the McDonald’s Quarter Pounder and are experiencing symptoms of the E. coli infection are advised to look forward to immediate treatment as well. Health officials remind all that getting an early diagnosis is very significant, specially for high-risk groups, like the elderly and very young children.

The outbreak has also brought financial fallouts for McDonald’s: Following the CDC announcement, its stock suds fell as high as 9%, adding to struggles of a difficult financial year.

This chain of fast food has struggled with declining sales in part due to inflation, in which thrift-conscious customers have been compelled either to dine more cheaply or just to stay home. This latest outbreak further complicates recovery efforts for the company despite promotion strategies like the $5 meal deal introduced earlier this year. The federal health agencies continue to investigate the outbreak but still try to halt further illness. As part of figuring out how contamination occurred, the CDC, FDA and USDA are collaborating while paying particular attention to the slivered onions and beef patties.

Meanwhile, McDonald’s has acted rapidly to minimize the risks by stopping the usage of the ingredients in the concerned states. Public health officials are urging consumers who have eaten a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder over the past week to contact their healthcare provider if they exhibited any symptoms. Since an investigation is still going on, officials provide their dedication to making things safe for consumers and preventing further cases. This outbreak of E. coli serves as another sure reminder of the risks associated with foodborne illnesses and of the importance of food safety measures in the fast-food industry. As an investigation continues, consumers are encouraged to remain vigilant and follow any updates from health authorities regarding the situation.