McDonald's Sliced Onions Suspected in E. Coli cases

DENVER, CO., October 23, 2024 — An E. Coli outbreak in Colorado and Nebraska is being tied to McDonald’s, and some menu items have been removed temporarily while an investigation takes place. 

The initial findings from the Center for Disease Control indicate a subset of illnesses may be linked to slivered onions used in the Quarter Pounder and sourced by a single supplier that serves three distribution centers. There have been 49 cases reported with ten hospitalizations and one death. Ten states are impacted, but the majority of cases are reported in Colorado and Nebraska. McDonald’s has remove the product from their supply and paused the distribution of all slivered onions in the impacted area.

McDonald’s president Joe Erlinger said in a video statement that the Quarter Pounder is the only menu item impacted. According to 2021 estimates, the chain sold about 6.5 billion burgers that year.

The chain has temporarily removed the Quarter Pounder from restaurants in the impacted area, including Colorado, Kansas, Utah and Wyoming, as well as portions of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. 

According to the CDC, E. coli O157:H7 infection symptoms are reported 3 to 4 days from exposure and most people recover within 5 to 7 days with no treatment necessary.

Erlinger said Wednesday morning the chain is continuing to work with the CDC and “let science lead the way.” He said McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc famously said, if you take care of our customers, the business will take care of itself and that’s what the chain will do.

Source: Rachel Gabel, The Fence Post Magazine and Western Ag Network