An outbreak of E. coli food poisoning linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers has resulted in at least 49 people falling ill across 10 states, with one fatality and 10 hospitalizations, according to federal health officials. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported Tuesday that an older individual in Colorado succumbed to the illness, and one child is hospitalized with severe kidney complications.
The CDC reported that the infections occurred between September 27 and October 11, with the majority of cases reported in Colorado (26) and Nebraska (9). Other states affected include Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. All affected individuals interviewed reported having eaten at McDonald’s prior to falling ill, with most specifically mentioning the Quarter Pounder hamburger.
Federal and state health officials, alongside the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), are investigating the outbreak. While the exact source of the contamination has yet to be confirmed, preliminary findings point to slivered onions served on the burgers as a likely culprit. The USDA is also examining the hamburger patties for potential contamination.
In a statement, McDonald’s indicated that the initial investigation linked some of the illnesses to onions provided by a single supplier. The company has stopped distributing the slivered onions and has temporarily removed the Quarter Pounder from menus in the affected states and several other regions, including parts of Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.
“We take food safety extremely seriously and it’s the right thing to do,” McDonald’s said in their statement.