Backstory:
On Tuesday, Oct. 22, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that McDonald’s Quarter Pounder burgers have been making people sick and that it was likely linked to E. coli. The CDC’s first reported case of the bacteria in McDonald’s food was on September 27, 2024. They suspected the cause was the yellow-slivered onions used specifically for the quarter pounders, though they noted there had been no cases of E.coli linked to onions before. According to CNN, McDonald’s single supplier of onions is Taylor Farms Colorado, who have now removed the item from their market to possibly prevent further cases. McDonald’s claims health authorities did not notify them about a potential link between its Quarter Pounder and E. Coli until late in the week of Oct. 13-Oct 19.
People affected / state of the situation?
The outbreak has affected 49 people in 10 states so far, with Colorado having the most with 26 cases. A lawsuit has been filed by Eric Stelly, who tested positive for E. coli after eating a quarter pounder from a McDonald’s in Greeley, Colorado. The lawsuit against McDonald’s seeks $50,000 in damages and accuses McDonald’s of negligence and product liability. McDonald’s has since removed Quarter Pounders from the menu in roughly ⅕ of U.S. establishments and anticipates that the outbreak should now be contained.
What is E. coli?
E.coli affects an estimated 74,000 people in the US per year. One can get infected by eating contaminated foods such as undercooked meat and raw produce that isn’t properly washed, drinking unpasteurized beverages like milk, cider, juice, and foods made from them, as well as drinking contaminated water. Most types of E. coli are harmless, but some can make you very sick, typically causing infections in the digestive system. Symptoms include stomach pains, cramps, loss of appetite, and low fever.
Should you be worried?
Cases were found from Midwestern states to the Rockies, particularly Colorado, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming.
According to USA Today, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and the FDA have begun investigating the incident. McDonald’s is also leading its own investigations and claimed on NBC’s Today show that its priority is to win back the public’s confidence. McDonald’s also removed Quarter-Pounders from the menu at one-fifth of its restaurants.
On TODAY, McDonald’s insisted that people can still come to their restaurants and enjoy their food and that they have kept their cheeseburger, hamburger, Big Mac, and McDouble on the menu because they are unconnected to the E. coli outbreak.
