McDonalds’ Deadly E. Coli Outbreak Explained

At least 49 people in various states have become ill after eating McDonald’s Quarter Pounders, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Tuesday, citing “an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections.” One person has died and 10 have been hospitalized. 

The majority of the illnesses have been reported In Colorado and Nebraska. However, McDonald’s restaurants in additional states — Kansas, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico and Oklahoma — have also paused serving the slivered onions and beef patties that are used for the Quarter Pounders as the CDC investigation continues. 

“The true number of sick people in this outbreak is likely much higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses,” the CDC said in an update Wednesday.

The people who have become ill in connection with the outbreak range from 13 to 88 years old. It’s unclear at this time what ingredient in the burger caused the illness. However, the CDC states that fresh slivered onions are used predominantly on the Quarter Pounders at the chain restaurant, which is why certain locations have temporarily stopped serving them and the Quarter Pounder patties. 

On Wednesday, McDonald’s USA President Joe Erlinger told Today that the company is “very confident that you can go to McDonald’s and enjoy our classics. We took swift action yesterday to remove the Quarter Pounder from our menu.”

“Food safety is our top priority at McDonald’s,” he added.

What is E. coli?

E. coli is a bacteria that is found in various places, including the intestines of humans and animals, according to the CDC. E. coli does not always cause illness, but you can become sick if you ingest the bacteria from contaminated food or water. 

Common symptoms are severe stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting. Young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to become ill from E. coli.

The CDC says to call your health care provider if you have severe symptoms of E. coli. You can also contact your local or state health department to report foodborne illnesses. The CDC’s directory of health departments can be found here.