McDonald’s recently pulled onions from its Quarter Pounders across several states following a deadly E. coli outbreak linked to the vegetables.
The outbreak, which has already sickened at least 49 people and resulted in one death, prompted the recall of onions supplied by Taylor Farms, a California-based producer of fresh-cut vegetables.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identified the slivered onions used in Quarter Pounders as the likely source of contamination.
Taylor Farms, out of an abundance of caution, recalled four raw onion products distributed to customers like McDonald’s and other restaurants.
The recall has also affected other chains like Illegal Pete’s, Taco Bell, KFC, and Pizza Hut, although no E. coli cases have been linked to these establishments.
As of now, McDonald’s has not disclosed whether the recalled onions were distributed to other restaurant chains. The contaminated onions were sourced from a single supplier and processed at one facility before being sent to various McDonald’s locations.
Health officials are warning that the number of infections linked to the outbreak may rise.
McDonald’s is facing legal action from affected customers. Food safety law firm Ron Simon & Associates has already filed two lawsuits, representing customers from Nebraska and Colorado who contracted the E. coli strain O157:H7 after eating Quarter Pounders.
The firm is currently representing 15 families from multiple states who are experiencing various outcomes from the infection.
The strain of E. coli involved in the outbreak, O157:H7, produces a toxin that can damage the small intestine, leading to severe gastrointestinal issues and, in some cases, serious complications like hemolytic uremic syndrome, a condition particularly dangerous for children.
The FDA and CDC continue to investigate the outbreak, urging caution and monitoring the situation closely.
