Federal and state health officials say that McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers are linked to a fast-moving E. coli outbreak that has made at least 49 people sick in 10 states.
According to early research, the slivered onions that were used in these burgers may have been the source of the contamination.
Ten people have been hospitalized and one has died in Colorado because of the outbreak, which was caused by the dangerous E. coli O157 strain. Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious problem that can lead to kidney failure, happened to one of the patients.
Early Investigation Points to Onions
It is being looked into by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The FDA looked at trace back data and found that the onions used in Quarter Pounders are most likely where the contamination came from. The ground beef patties are also being tracked by officials to rule out other sources.
McDonald’s Removes Key Ingredients
In response to the outbreak, McDonald’s has temporarily stopped serving Quarter Pounder patties and fresh sliced onions in a number of states.
In the areas that were affected, Quarter Pounder burgers will not be available until investigators find out where the contamination came from.
Outbreak Details
It was said that people got sick between September 27 and October 11. All 18 people who were interviewed had eaten at McDonald’s, and 86% said they had a Quarter Pounder.
Health officials say the real number of cases may be higher because many people may get better without going to the doctor.
People from 13 to 88 years old have been affected by the outbreak, with 26 being the median age. 63% of those who are infected are men and 93% are white.
Health Advisory
People who ate a Quarter Pounder recently and are now having severe E. coli symptoms like diarrhea, fever, or abdominal pain should call their doctor right away.
Public health officials are still working with McDonald’s and its suppliers to find out where the cases came from and stop them from happening again.
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