According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there has been a fatality and 49 confirmed cases of E.coli linked to a popular item on McDonald’s menu.
From September 27 to October 11, ten states in the U.S. have reported individuals testing positive for E.coli.
So far, 49 people have been affected by this bacterial infection. Among them, 10 have been hospitalized, and one individual has died.
The states where E.coli cases have been reported and associated with McDonald’s are Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oregon, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
In Colorado, 27 of the 49 cases have emerged, including the deceased individual and a child suffering from severe kidney complications.
The affected people range in age from 13 to 88 years old.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, “E. coli is a group of bacteria that can cause infections in your gut (GI tract), urinary tract and other parts of your body. Most of the time, it can live in your gut without hurting you.
“But some strains can make you sick with watery diarrhea, vomiting and a fever. Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) is most likely to cause severe illness.”
The infection can be contracted through eating ‘contaminated food,’ including undercooked meat and poorly washed raw fruits and vegetables, as noted by the clinic.
The CDC has identified the outbreak’s source as a McDonald’s menu item, the Quarter Pounder burger. All confirmed cases had dined at the fast-food chain, with many consuming this burger before falling ill.
It remains unclear what specific ingredient is responsible for the E.coli outbreak, but McDonald’s has implemented precautionary steps as it investigates.
The fast-food company stated that it has stopped using ‘slivered onions’ sourced from a single supplier serving three distribution centers and paused the distribution in the affected areas. They also removed the Quarter Pounder from restaurants in these regions out of caution.
The CDC has issued a release mentioning that McDonald’s is collaborating with the organization to identify the contaminated ingredient, with the investigation officially starting on October 22.
Authorities are worried that the number of cases could increase significantly because it can take weeks for cases to be reported.
The CDC notes that symptoms usually appear three to four days after infection, and recovery typically takes five to seven days without treatment.
However, the CDC advises anyone who has recently eaten a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder and is experiencing symptoms to contact their healthcare provider.
In severe cases, E. coli can lead to ‘serious kidney problems.’
McDonald’s issued a statement, as reported by NBC Chicago: “Across the McDonald’s System, serving customers safely in every single restaurant, each and every day, is our top priority and something we’ll never compromise on. It is why we are taking swift and decisive action following an E. Coli outbreak in certain states.
“We take food safety extremely seriously and it’s the right thing to do. Impacted restaurants are receiving a stock recovery notice today and should reach out to their field supply chain manager or distribution center with any questions.
“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.
“We will continue to work with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and are committed to providing timely updates as we restore our full menu.”