McDonald’s brings back Quarter Pounders after E. coli outbreak linked to onions
LOS ANGELES - After a temporary removal due to an E. coli outbreak, McDonald’s has announced the return of its popular Quarter Pounder burger in hundreds of restaurants.
The outbreak, which resulted in one death and 75 cases of illness across 13 states, has been linked to slivered onions from a Colorado-based supplier, Taylor Farms. Beef patties were tested and ruled out as a source of contamination.
What caused the Quarter Pounder E. coli outbreak?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) traced the likely contamination source to slivered onions provided by Taylor Farms.
These onions, sourced from a facility in Colorado Springs, were used in McDonald’s Quarter Pounders at approximately 900 restaurants, mainly in the Midwest and Mountain states.
McDonald’s response to the outbreak
McDonald’s promptly removed slivered onions from affected locations and stopped sourcing from Taylor Farms' Colorado facility indefinitely. Testing by the Colorado
Department of Agriculture confirmed that the beef patties were free of E. coli, allowing McDonald’s to safely reintroduce the Quarter Pounder, now served without slivered onions.
Impact of the E. coli outbreak
As of Friday, at least 22 people were hospitalized, with two developing a severe kidney disease complication.
The outbreak has impacted states including Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, and New Mexico. Some fast-food chains, including Taco Bell and KFC, have also temporarily removed onions in response to the outbreak as investigations continue.