McDonald's Quarter-Pounder linked to deadly E.Coli outbreak in US

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McDonald’s quarter pounders have been linked to a deadly outbreak of E.coli in the US.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced the bacteria had been found in the Hamburgers.

One person has died and a number of other people have been hospitalised, including a child, across 10 different states after eating the famous burgers.

A McDonald's executive said the outbreak: "may be linked to slivered onions used in the Quarter Pounder"

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has advised people who ate burgers and fell ill with severe symptoms of E.coli to contact their healthcare providers.

“The initial findings from the investigation indicate that a subset of illnesses may be linked to slivered onions used in the Quarter Pounder and sourced by a single supplier that serves three distribution centres,” McDonald’s North America chief supply chain officer, Cesar Piña, said in a statement shared by the company.

The first case was reported September 27, and cases continued to spread until the last case was reported October 11, according to the CDC.

“McDonald’s reported to CDC that it has stopped using fresh slivered onions and quarter pounder beef patties in several states,” the CDC said, but the agency is still working to confirm which ingredient is the source of the infections.

The quarter-pound beef patties are used exclusively for Quarter Pounders, the CDC said, and the slivered onions are primarily used on the popular menu item.

“Out of an abundance of caution, we are also temporarily removing the Quarter Pounder from restaurants in the impacted area, including Colorado, Kansas, Utah and Wyoming, as well as portions of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, and Oklahoma,” Piña said. “We take food safety extremely seriously and it’s the right thing to do.

“Impacted restaurants are receiving a stock recovery notice today and should reach out to their field supply chain manager or distribution centre with any questions.”

E. coli is a bacteria that is found naturally in the environment, and even in the intestines of people and animals. However, some E. coli can produce the Shiga toxin which can lead to serious illnesses and death.

Symptoms of a bad E. coli infection can start with stomach cramps, diarrhoea and vomiting, and typically appear three to four days after consuming the infected product.

The CDC advised people who have consumed a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder and experience a fever higher than 102 degrees Fahrenheit, diarrhea for more than three days without improvement, bloody diarrhoea, continuous vomiting or signs of dehydration, to contact their health care provider and seek medical attention.

A total of 49 cases were reported, with the majority occurring in Colorado and Nebraska.

But the CDC notes that the “true number of sick people in this outbreak is also likely much higher than the number reported.”

In some states, the Quarter Pounder has been temporarily removed from the menu.

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"We take food safety extremely seriously and it’s the right thing to do," said Piña.

"All other menu items, including other beef products (including the Cheeseburger, Hamburger, Big Mac, McDouble and the Double Cheeseburger) are unaffected and available," he added in part.

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