GEORGIA, Oct. 22, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — The Georgia-based Center for Disease Control on Tuesday issued a food safety alert after people in Utah and nine other states became sick with E. coli after consuming McDonald’s quarter pounders.
“This is a fast-moving outbreak investigation,” the CDC statement says. “Most sick people are reporting eating Quarter Pounder hamburgers from McDonald’s and investigators are working quickly to confirm which food ingredient is contaminated. McDonald’s has pulled ingredients for these burgers, and they won’t be available for sale in some states.”
The outbreak involves a reported 49 cases, with one resulting in death and 10 in hospitalizations. The state with the most reported cases is Colorado, with 10 to 26 cases, a CDC graphic shows.
Utah, Wyoming and Nebraska each have four to nine cases.
Oregon, Montana, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin each have one to three cases.
“CDC, FDA, USDA FSIS, and public health officials in multiple states are investigating an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections,” the Center for Disease Control statement says.
“Most people in this outbreak are reporting eating the Quarter Pounder hamburger at McDonald’s before becoming sick. It is not yet known which specific food ingredient is contaminated.
“McDonald’s is collaborating with investigation partners to determine what food ingredient in Quarter Pounders is making people sick. McDonald’s stopped using fresh slivered onions and quarter pound beef patties in several states while the investigation is ongoing to identify the ingredient causing illness.”
The true number of sick people in this outbreak is also likely much higher than the number reported, the CDC statement says. “because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for E. coli.”
McDonald’s said in a statement released Tuesday that it has pulled Quarter Pounders from the menu in Utah, Colorado, Kansas and Wyoming, “as well as portions of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.
“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).”
All other menu items, “including other beef products … 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.”
McDonald’s has stopped using fresh slivered onions and quarter pound beef patties in several states to protect their customers while a source of illness is confirmed, the CDC statement says.
Symptoms of severe E. coli infection can include diarrhea that lasts for more than three days and does not improve, bloody diarrhea, a fever higher than 102 degrees, vomiting, dehydration, dry mouth and throat, and dizziness, the statement says. Symptoms usually start three to four days after ingestion of the bacteria, and most people recover without treatment in five to seven days.
Some people may develop kidney problems and require hospitalization. For more information about E. coli, see the E. coli Questions and Answers page.
People who believe they were infected are asked to contact their healthcare providers.
