A severe E. coli outbreak connected to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder burgers has grown to 75 reported cases, predominantly in the western United States according to officials from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Hospitalizations have risen to 22, with one fatality an elderly patient in Colorado but no additional deaths reported. Among the cases, one child and one adult have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious condition that damages blood vessels in the kidneys.
Investigators are still working to determine the exact source of contamination, with current focus on slivered onions and beef patties. Taylor Farms, McDonald’s supplier of slivered onions, has issued a voluntary recall on its yellow onions as a precautionary measure.
As a result of the outbreak, McDonald’s has temporarily removed Quarter Pounders from its menus across 13 affected states, although other beef items remain available. Shares of the company dropped by over two percent in early afternoon trading, reflecting the potential impact of the outbreak on the fast-food giant.
In response, law firms Ron Simon & Associates and Meyers & Flowers have filed lawsuits on behalf of two customers from Colorado and Nebraska who fell ill after consuming Quarter Pounders. Each lawsuit seeks a minimum of $50,000 in damages. Attorney Ron Simon, representing the plaintiffs, stated, “When a consumer goes to McDonald’s to buy a meal, they’re placing an enormous amount of trust that McDonald’s has done everything it can to make your food safe. And here, whether it was faulty testing, faulty oversight, faulty handling, somehow poison got in that food, and trust is broken.”
The CDC has urged anyone who ate a Quarter Pounder and experiences symptoms of E. coli infection such as diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, a fever over 102°F, and vomiting to seek medical attention. E. coli symptoms generally appear three to four days post-exposure, and while most recover within five to seven days without medical intervention, some cases may become severe.
McDonald’s issued a statement on Tuesday, asserting it had taken “swift and decisive action” to address the issue, emphasizing that food safety remains the company’s “top priority” as investigations continue.
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