McDonald’s E. coli Outbreak: What We Know So Far

McDonald’s has temporarily removed quarter pounders and fresh, slivered onions from the menu in approximately 20% of its U.S. stores due to a deadly E. coli outbreak. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 49 cases of illness across 10 states, with 10 hospitalizations and one confirmed death.

The outbreak has been primarily concentrated in western and Midwest states, including Colorado and Nebraska, where the most cases have been recorded. The CDC continues to investigate the source of the E. coli contamination, but preliminary interviews have linked several cases to McDonald’s quarter pounders.

The first confirmed outbreak case was reported on 27 September, and since then, a child has been hospitalized with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a severe condition that can lead to kidney failure. Unfortunately, one death has been reported, an older adult in Colorado.

McDonald’s removed the affected items from stores in states including Colorado, Kansas, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, and more, as authorities investigate further. Other major food companies are also withdrawing onions as a precautionary measure, though McDonald’s has clarified that other menu items, including other burgers, remain unaffected.