The Center of Disease Control has recently announced an E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders.
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration reports that the slivered onions are the likely source of contamination and are working swiftly to confirm the source.
The investigation began on Oct. 22. As of now, 90 cases have been reported with one death and 27 hospitalizations across 13 states. CDC does not know which specific food ingredient is contaminated.
Health official investigators are working with McDonald’s to identify the specific cause linked toward the outbreak. As of now, the slivered onions from the quarter pound burger are under examination.
Beef patties samples have been tested not to be the source of the E. coli outbreak, according to the Colorado Agriculture Department.
In NBC’s “TODAY” show on Wednesday, Joe Erlinger, president of McDonald’s USA stated, “Food safety is our top priority at McDonald’s, the top priority [at McDonald’s Headquarters,] it’s a top priority in thousands of McDonald’s restaurants across the U.S. [and] it’s a top priority for our suppliers as well.”
He notes that swift action has been taken to “protect the American public and promote public health.”
The FDA recommends consumers who have developed symptoms of E. coli and have eaten at McDonald’s to “contact their health care provider to report their symptoms and receive care immediately.”
Despite the outbreak, Earlingers, president of McDonald’s USA, confidence is high in McDonald’s chains.
“We are very confident that you can go to McDonald’s and enjoy our classics,” Erlinger said. “We took swift action yesterday to remove the Quarter Pounder from our menu. This was swift and decisive action by us.”
