McDonald’s has acted quickly following a report connecting one of their menu items to an E.coli outbreak that has impacted 10 states in the United States.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on October 22 that they have initiated an examination into a bacterial infection outbreak linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder burgers.
The outbreak is now reportedly affecting more than the initially reported 10 states – Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah, and Wyoming – with 49 confirmed cases, 10 hospitalizations and one death.
All of the 49 confirmed cases reported eating at McDonald’s before contracting the virus, with many of them specifically mentioning the Quarter Pounder.
The CDC is working alongside McDonald’s in an ongoing investigation to identify the specific ingredient contaminated with the bacteria.
In response, McDonald’s has implemented several preventive measures to safeguard its customers.
In a statement, McDonald’s confirmed it has temporarily ceased using ‘slivered onions’ sourced from a particular supplier that caters to three distribution centers, pausing the distribution in the affected area and removing the Quarter Pounder from restaurants in those regions as a precaution.
The president of McDonald’s USA has also commented on the outbreak.
Appearing on the Today show, Joe Erlinger, McDonald’s USA President, stated that the company took ‘swift and decisive action’ to remove the Quarter Pounder from its menu. He confirmed that the ‘quarter pounder and two ingredients on that quarter pounder are under investigation by the CDC’.
Cesar Piña, McDonald’s North America Chief Supply Chain Officer, shared with UNILAD an internal message indicating that ‘affected restaurants’ received a ‘stock recovery notice’ and were advised to contact their field supply chain manager or distribution center for any queries.
He added, “We are working in close partnership with our suppliers to replenish supply for the Quarter Pounder in the coming weeks (timing will vary by local market). In the meantime, all other menu items, including other beef products (including the Cheeseburger, Hamburger, Big Mac, McDouble and the Double Cheeseburger) are unaffected and available.”
President Erlinger reassured customers that they can still ‘confidently go to McDonald’s’ and enjoy the classic menu items, emphasizing that ‘food safety is [its] top priority’.
He continued, “It’s the top priority in this building where I am, at the McDonald’s headquarters. It’s a top priority in our nearly 14,000 McDonald’s restaurants across the U.S. It’s the top priority for our suppliers as well.”
Erlinger also mentioned that McDonald’s will continue to update customers about the progress of the investigation.
He emphasized that the company belongs to ‘everyone’ and assured that the chain will continue delving into details, although he believes that isn’t the most crucial aspect.
Erlinger concluded, “What’s important today is that we’ve taken the action to protect the American public and promote public health.
“But certainly we will be working with the CDC and cooperating with them on the investigation, and we’ll take in more data and let the science continue to lead our action.
“Our founder famously said, ‘If you take care of our customers, the business will take care of itself’.”