McDonald's Burgers Linked to Serious Multi-State E. coli Outbreak

A food safety alert has been issued after a popular McDonald’s menu item was linked to an E. coli outbreak in multiple states across the country.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Oct. 22 that public health officials are currently investigating the outbreak after most people affected reported that they ate McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers prior to falling ill.

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The majority of the affected people are in Colorado and Nebraska, and a statement issued by McDonald’s says that it is believed that the affected ingredients were “sourced by a single supplier that serves three distribution centers.”

At the time of publication, a specific ingredient that caused the illness had not been isolated by authorities, but because “quarter pound beef patties are only used on Quarter Pounders” and “fresh slivered onions are primarily used on Quarter Pounder hamburgers and not other menu items,” the chain believes it has narrowed down the possible source.

At least 49 people across 10 states fell ill as a result of the outbreak, with one death and ten hospitalizations, reports CNN .

Related: 5 Foods To Avoid Right Now if You’re Immunocompromised, According to Food Safety Experts

According to the CDC, the fast food chain is “collaborating with investigation partners to determine what food ingredient in Quarter Pounders is making people sick. McDonald’s stopped using fresh slivered onions and quarter pound beef patties in several states while the investigation is ongoing to identify the ingredient causing illness.”

McDonald’s announced that restaurants in “Colorado, Kansas, Utah and Wyoming, as well as portions of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, and Oklahoma” will temporarily stop serving Quarter Pounders.

The CDC recommends that people contact their healthcare provider if they have severe E. coli symptoms after eating a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburger. Symptoms can include diarrhea and a fever higher than 102°F, severe stomach cramps, vomiting to the point of not being able to keep liquids down, and dehydration.

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