The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a major update regarding the E. Coli outbreak connected to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders. On December 3, 2024, the US government announced the closure of the investigation into MCD’s Quarter Pounders as there was no longer a safety risk.
First reported in October 2024, the outbreak made at least 104 people sick across 14 US states leading to 34 hospitalisations. A person from Colorado lost their life due to the bacterial infection. Reportedly, four individuals even developed kidney complications.
The investigation, which was carried out along with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and state health departments, revealed that the E. Coli outbreak was linked to yellow onions distributed by Taylor Farms, a California-based producer company. The company eventually recalled the onions on October 22, 2024.
These onions are served with Quarter Pounders across MCD locations in Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, and others. McDonald's stopped selling Quarter Pounders in the affected states. According to the CDC, no new cases have been reported since October 21, 2024.
Concerned authorities failed to find the illness-causing E. Coli strain as a result of which they deduced from evidence that the yellow onions were the outbreak’s origin.
McDonald’s listed 900 stores after identifying onions, not hamburger patties, as the tentative outbreak source. With a new onion supplier, sales resumed nationwide in November 2024, but demand has dropped. To address the impact, McDonald’s announced a $100 million recovery plan, including $65 million for the most affected franchisees.
McDonald’s said customers’ trust has been reinstated after CDC closed the investigation
According to The New York Post, McDonald’s emphasized its commitment to prioritizing safety and acting swiftly in response to the outbreak, noting that federal and state officials have consistently stated the public risk has remained minimal since their immediate actions in October 2024.
During a press call, the restaurant chain acknowledged the importance of rebuilding customer trust and assured efforts are underway to restore confidence. Nevertheless, consumers must still take precautions as symptoms can appear within a few days to up to nine days after ingesting contaminated food.
Some of the symptoms include intense abdominal cramps, diarrhea, fever, nausea, and vomiting. In severe cases, the infection can result in bloody diarrhea and potentially life-threatening complications, such as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), as well as long-term issues like high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, and neurological disorders.
CDC advises not drinking unsafe water, including water from lakes, ponds, swimming pools, streams, etc. It is suggested to drink pasteurized milk as the process removes harmful germs.
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In other news, Nicole and Richard West’s 11-month-old daughter, Logan, was affected by E. coli poisoning. After Logan was hospitalized in October, the couple from Townsend, Montana reportedly decided to take legal action against McDonald’s. The illness occurred after Logan ate part of her father’s Quarter Pounder with onions during a family trip.
She had severe symptoms, leading to hospitalization. While Richard also fell ill but stayed home to care for their other children. The family is now facing significant medical expenses, and their trust in MCD has been deeply shaken.
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