McDonald's E. coli Outbreak: 75 Sickened, One Dead; Quarter Pounder Pulled from 20% of US Stores

Oct 25, 2024, 03:04 PM

An E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald's Quarter Pounder hamburgers has sickened at least 75 people across 13 states in the US, resulting in at least one death and 22 hospitalizations, with two individuals in critical condition, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The strain identified is E. coli O157:H7, one of the leading causes of foodborne illness in the country. McDonald's has temporarily pulled the Quarter Pounder from menus at 20% of its US locations, including restaurants in Nevada and Colorado, as federal agencies investigate the source of the contamination. Preliminary reports suggest that the slivered onions used in the burgers may be responsible. The CDC notified McDonald's of the potential link late last week, prompting the company to take precautionary measures. Officials warn that the true number of infected individuals is likely much higher than reported, and the outbreak is expected to grow.