E. coli Outbreak Linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders

CDC, FDA, USDA FSIS and public health officials in multiple states are investigating an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections. 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, said CDC.

Forty-nine cases of illness have been reported in 10 states, with most illnesses reported in Colorado and Nebraska. There have been 10 hospitalizations and one death related to the outbreak, reported CDC.

• Quarter Pounder hamburgers will not be available temporarily in some states while McDonald's makes some supply changes.
• McDonald's stores in Colorado, Kansas, Utah, Wyoming, and portions of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico and Oklahoma have temporarily stopped using Quarter Pounder slivered onions and beef patties.
• McDonald's is proactively making these changes while investigators work to confirm the contaminated ingredient. Quarter pound beef patties are only used on Quarter Pounders. Fresh slivered onions are primarily used on Quarter Pounder hamburgers and not other menu items.
• Investigators are working to confirm which ingredient in these hamburgers is making people sick and if it went to other restaurants or stores.