McDonald’s Quarter Pounder Hamburger
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McDonald’s Shares fell Wednesday morning in premarket trading after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said a Outbreak of E. coli linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers resulted in 10 hospitalizations and one death.
The agency said 49 cases were reported in 10 states between September 27 and October 11, with most cases recorded in Colorado and Nebraska. “Most” of the sick people reported eating a quarter-pound McDonald’s, the CDC added.
One of the patients developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious illness that can lead to kidney failure. An elderly Colorado resident has died.
McDonald’s shares fell about 7% before the market opened Wednesday.
In a statement TuesdayMcDonald’s said it was taking “swift and decisive action” following the E. Coli in some states.
The company said initial results of the ongoing investigation show that some of the illnesses may be linked to thinly sliced onions — or fresh onions sliced into thin shapes — that are used in the Quarter Pounder and purchased by a single supplier that serves three distribution centers. McDonald’s has asked all local restaurants to remove chopped onions from their supply and has suspended distribution of this ingredient in the affected area.
This map shows where the 49 people affected by this E. epidemic live. coli.
Source: CDC
Quarter Pounder burgers will be temporarily unavailable in several Western states, including Colorado, Kansas, Utah and Wyoming, as well as parts of other states, McDonald’s said. He added that he was working with suppliers to restock ingredients.
The majority of states and menu items are not affected by the outbreak, McDonald’s U.S. President Joe Erlinger said in a video. The company’s other beef products, including the cheeseburger, hamburger, Big Mac, McDouble and double cheeseburger, are not affected, he added. These sandwiches use a different type of onion product.
“We are working quickly to restore our full menu in these states as soon as possible,” Erlinger said. “I hope these steps demonstrate McDonald’s commitment to food safety.”
Quarter Pounder burgers are a staple of the McDonald’s menu, raking in billions of dollars each year. In 2018, McDonald’s fresh beef launch for its Quarter Pounders in most of its American stores.
The CDC said the number of people affected by the outbreak is “likely much higher” than has been reported so far. The agency explained that this is because many people recover from E. coli infections without getting tested or receiving medical care. It also typically takes three to four weeks to determine whether a sick patient is part of an outbreak, the CDC added.
A McDonald’s located on Route 66 in Azusa, California on April 1, 2024.
Robert Gauthier | Los Angeles Times | Getty Images
E. coli refers to a group of bacteria found in the intestines of almost all people and animals. But some strains of the bacteria can cause mild to severe illness if a person eats contaminated food or drinks polluted water.
Symptoms, including stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting, usually begin three to four days after swallowing the bacteria, according to the CDC. Most people recover without treatment after five to seven days.
Several cases of E. coli have been reported in McDonald’s restaurants.
In 2022, at least six children developed symptoms consistent with E. coli poisoning after eating Happy Meals Chicken McNuggets from McDonald’s in Ashland, Alabama. Four of the six children were admitted to hospital after experiencing serious side effects.
